Advent

Advent season in the Church is a somber one, mixed with the excitement and anticipation of the Nativity (the birth of Our Lord).

The word Advent means and brings with it “the Coming”. The Coming of the Baby Jesus, the meaning and significance of the Incarnation of Our Lord and His saving sacrifice. It also brings the sobering notion of His Coming Again at the end of time to bring Judgment and salvation to those who believe in Him. Lastly, Advent brings with it the Coming of Jesus into our hearts and souls.

Advent is a season of preparation in which the Church asks us to prepare a place in our lives, our hearts and our souls for Jesus. Some equate it to a mini-Lent, in which we examine our lives to seek absolution for our sins in order to remove any barriers between us and God and so we can accept Jesus into our lives. Some even adopt Lenten like fasts. All is to prepare for His Coming.

The clergy and altar are vested in violet, the color of penitence. We burn violet candles in the Advent Wreath counting down to the Eve of Christmas, the Nativity.