Advent

[la bella vita]

So I heard that Advent starts soon - I've heard the term before, but I have absolutely no idea what it means or what the purpose is. Please educate a sad little ex-CoC girl. Thanks!

[Joseph the Worker]

Advent is the season in the Church calendar before Christmas season (actually it's the first season in the Church calendar, as we will start a new Church year at the end of November.) It recalls the time leading up to Christ's birth in salvation history. We are looking forward to the birth of Christ within the calendar, but it also serves as a reminder that we are looking forward to Christ's actual second coming.

[mllevaleur]

Yep, it's the penitential season before Christmas, in the same way that Lent is the penitential season before Easter. The liturgical color is violet, so you'll see priests wearing violet and various cloths, etc, that are violet. Most churches in the US have an advent wreath with 4 candles which are lit as we go through Advent. It's a time of reflection and preparation, before we bust out with Christmas and PAR-TAY! Then we have the season (yes, SEASON, not just day) of Christmas. So while the stores are packing up the Christmas stuff they've had up since before Halloween at midnight on Christmas Eve, we're just starting our Christmas celebration, churches are decorated for Christmas, etc.

[la bella vita]

Thanks for the responses! I was reading a little about it online and it sounded sort of like Lent, but I wasn't sure if I was understanding it correctly. On a somewhat related note, it looks like I'll be spending Christmas Eve with my boyfriend and his family - I'm excited to go to Mass with them and, for the first time in my life, truly celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday (even as a kid I never felt right about the CoC's anti-Christmas as a religious holiday stance). Plus, his parents love Christmas and host a big party every year - Catholics are fun!

[Joseph the Worker]

Do you get to go to a Midnight mass? Those are my absolute favorite!

[la bella vita]

Not sure, but I know that my boyfriend told me that it's always completely packed and it's a great service.

[mllevaleur]

Ooh, how fun! I'm excited for you.

[la bella vita]

Follow up question: is there anything different about mass during Advent? I'm still getting used to things and trying my best to follow along and figure out what stuff means, so I just want to know if I should expect anything different.

[Joseph the Worker]

Follow up question: is there anything different about mass during Advent?

You don't sing the "Gloria" and some parishes light advent candles (one for each week of Advent) during mass. That's the only two things I can think of, except that the readings focus on certain aspects of the coming of Christ.

[mllevaleur]

Saw this blog on advent from conversiondiary Jen and thought of your thread here. (Be sure and read the comments, lots of good info there!)

http://www.conversiondiary.com/2007/12/ ... dvent.html