Catholic Fire

1. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming" or "arrival." 2. The Advent Season always begins four Sundays before Christmas; so it is rarely four full weeks long, but only between three and four weeks, depending on what weekday Dec. 25 happens to be in a certain year. 3. The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called "Gaudete Sunday" (from Latin, meaning "Rejoice!), because the "Entrance Antiphon" of this Sunday's Mass is taken from Paul's letter to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near." (Phil 4:4+5b) 4. In the Roman Catholic Church, the official liturgical color for most of the Season of Advent is violet. Only on the Third Sunday of Advent is a rose (pink) colored candle lit, as a symbol of joy; the priest may also wear rose vestments on this Sunday. 5. Advent wreaths have their origins in the folk traditions of northern Europe, ...

The liturgical season of Advent begins on the first Sunday in Advent, opening a new year in our Church's Calendar. The word Advent is from the Latin adventus, which means "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the birth of Christ. Advent is a season of waiting, a season filled with hope. Here are ten tips for making this Advent Season a holier one for you and your family: 1. Take the entire family, as often as possible, to daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and to the sacrament of Reconciliation. 2. On days when you are unable to attend Mass, read and reflect on the Scriptures for that day. 3. Use an Advent calendar and/or a wreath to mark this time of preparation. Pray Advent prayers with the family and the r...

Advent is only a few weeks away, so it's not too early to start thinking about books to help put you into the spirit of the season. This year Advent begins on the First Sunday in Advent, December 1, 2013. Here are a couple of my favorites for 2013: 1. The Advent of Christ: Scripure Reflections To Prepare for Christmas by Edward Sri -- Sri includes reflections for each day of Advent and for each day of the Christmas Season, including the Epiphany. Each daily entry consists of:  a brief Scripture passage, a daily meditation, questions for reflection to apply the passage to your life, and a short closing prayer. I particularly enjoyed reading the entries in the fourth chapter about the Blessed Virgin Mary, entitled, "In Mary's Footsteps: Her Call and Her Journey of Faith", which is a concise, but comprehensive treatment of Mary's journey through Advent. In The Advent of Christ, we also journey through Advent with: St. Joseph, Zechariah, and St. John th...