The beginning of Advent, liturgical church year

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Nov. 22, 2007

Advent is the time to prepare for the birth of Christ and this year the season starts on Dec. 2, the first Sunday of Advent.

"Advent is observed as a period when we reflect on God's involvement in human history through the person of Christ, who came into the world at his birth and will come again at the end of time," said Father Bruce Lawler, pastor at St. Mary Church in Storm Lake. "Catholic tradition speaks of Christ's coming 'in history, mystery and majesty,' that is, when he was first born among us (history), when he comes in glory at the end of time (majesty), and until that time, when he comes to us in word and sacrament (mystery)."

The beginning of Advent also marks the beginning of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church.

"This is, in some sense, a well chosen moment (to start the liturgical year) because it points us in the direction of the life of Christ," said David Lopez, chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux City.

The Advent season focuses on the coming of Christ in two ways. At the beginning of Advent, the future coming of Christ, at the end of time, is there in reflected.

"Because of their focus on Christ's second coming, the first two weeks help us to engage the temporal and limited nature of life on earth, the certainty of our own death and our meeting God face-to-face in judgment, and our dependence on God's mercy - topics we are tempted to avoid," said Father Tim Schott, pastor at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. "It is because we are honest and realistic about death, judgment and the promise of God's mercy that we can anticipate and celebrate the Christmas season feasts with devotion and joy."

Then attention turns to remembering the first coming of Christ and its celebration on Christmas day.

"Preparation involves two things," said Lopez. "One, you have to clean up and get ready because something important is going to happen. The other is you are excited because you are anticipating something. There is a quality of joy to Advent which is distinctive to the season - a combination of penance and joy."

According to the chancellor, the word Advent refers to a parade - the parade for Christ coming into the world. During Advent people are going out to meet Christ.

"Next to Easter, Christmas and the event it celebrates (the Incarnation) is the most important feast of the year," said Father Lawler. "Therefore it deserves special attention if we are going to deepen our appreciation for this mystery."

There is a need to make a special effort to observe the weeks of Advent as a religious season, to take time for prayer and reflection.

"For many centuries Advent was kept as a penitential season with fasting, much like Lent still is today," said Father Lawler. "While the church now describes it as a time for 'devout and joyful expectation,' some increased measure of self-denial, prayerfulness and sacrifice is still appropriate."

Advent originated in Gaul and Spain in the late 4th century when the church started to celebrate Christmas. The length of Advent varied from place to place.

"For instance, the Synod of Saragossa in Spain in 380 mentions the importance of the time from Dec. 17 until the feast of the Epiphany, (what in modern terms would be called Advent and the Christmas season)," said Father Lawler.

He explained that Caesarius, bishop of Arles, France from 502-542 refers to a time of preparation but does not specify its length. A synod in Gaul (France) held in 581 refers to a period of preparation beginning on Nov. 11, the feast of St. Martin of Tours.

It was Pope Gregory VII who standardized the length of Advent to four Sundays in the 11th century. Father Schott said he is uncertain why Pope Gregory fixed Advent at four Sundays.

"Perhaps in his arrangement of the seasons and feasts of the liturgical year calendar he wanted to distinguish Advent (four weeks) from Lent (40 days)," said the priest. "He also composed prayers and arranged Mass, Lectionary, and Liturgy of the Hours texts for the Advent season."

At St. Lawrence Parish in Carroll, they decorate the church for the Advent season with an Advent wreath that hangs from the church ceiling and matching altar cloths.

They begin Advent with a parish Advent Dinner the first Sunday of Advent including a social hour, followed by a potluck dinner and entertainment. The meal prayer invites them to enter the spirit of Advent.

They also celebrate evening prayer each Wednesday evening during Advent and celebrate communal Reconciliation the third Sunday of Advent, said Father Schott.

The Christmas season is the favorite time of year for many Catholics.

"The spiritual and liturgical challenge for us is to celebrate the Christmas season (Dec. 25 through Epiphany) fully," said Father Schott. "If we have been celebrating Christmas from the day after Thanksgiving, we are understandably tired of Christmas by Dec. 26, and we effectively throw out the Christmas season together with the Christmas tree that has become a fire hazard. Of course, the key to celebrating the Christmas season well is to celebrate the Advent season well."

He suggested that if people put up their Christmas tree in November, they should consider decorating it in stages through the four weeks of Advent - the first week only a few lights, the second week a few decorations, the third week more lights, etc.

"If you display a crèche in your home, leave it empty for a week, then add an animal each week, and wait until Christmas Day to add the Holy Family," said the priest. "If your tree is dried out by Dec. 26, dispose of it, but keep your crèche in a prominent place. Display the Magi in some other part of the house and finally add them to the crèche on Epiphany."

Father Schott concluded that the better people keep Advent, the more joyful, satisfying and memorable the Christmas season will be.