Advent

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God Appear."

Advent is the first season of the Church year. It lasts for four weeks leading up to Christmas Day on December 25th. “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming or arrival.” In the Christian context, this word points to two very important events: remembering the “arrival” of Jesus Christ when he was born into the world on the first Christmas Day, and looking forward to his second “arrival” when, as Christians believe, Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Advent is the beginning of the Church's Year and it starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30th, and ends on Christmas Eve (December 24th).

  • The Liturgical Color for Advent is PURPLE

  • Purple is the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. 

  • Purple points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. 

  • The nativity, the Incarnation, cannot be separated from the crucifixion, the Atonement. 

  • The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the "Word made flesh," and dwelling among us is to reveal God and His grace to the world through the obedient life of Jesus Christ AND through his suffering, death, and resurrection.

Reawakening Hope

Advent is greatly concerned with making the connection between memory and hope to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us: the memory of the incarnation of the God who became a child. This was promised to Israel by her prophets, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa 9.6. See also Isa 7:14). In the words of St. John, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This is the healing memory awakened in Advent and it is a hopeful memory. Salvation has come to the world in the incarnation of the eternal Son of God, and with him comes the hope of eternal life to all who believe. Advent is a season of hopeful anticipation of God’s breaking into our world and time. Therefore, it is a season of preparation and waiting. Just as the Israelites awaited a Messiah to fulfill God’s promises from Genesis 3:15 to Jeremiah 31:31-34 and beyond, so Christians await the return of Jesus the Messiah who will come and make all things new (Revelation 21).

A Time of Preparation

The Advent season contemplates the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and is a season of preparation. So we act upon the words of the prophet crying unto us from the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.” (Isaiah 40: 1-11, Mark: 1:1-8). We prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord through reflection, prayer, and penitence to receive the Savior who is coming into the world at Christmas. To better help guide you and your family’s Advent journey, we are happy to offer the following resources. May this Advent be one of growth and filled with anticipatory joy!

Experience Advent

  • Advent Devotional

    Download the Advent Family Devotional Guide to Enhance Advent Prayer & Contemplation For You And Your Children.

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  • Jesse Tree Ornaments

    Printable Ornaments and Bible Readings to help your famil trace God’s redemptive through history.

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  • Advent Wreath

    Download a helpful guide on how to use an Advent Wreath with weekly devotional prayers in anticipation of Christ’s birth.

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