An Advent Resource
December 1st 2024- December 24th 2024
O’ Come O’ Come Emmanuel!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Maranatha!
During Advent we honor and await the coming of Christ at Christmas, in the Eucharist and at His Second Coming! Marantha is translated from Aramaic and occurs in the Book of Revelation, it means “Come, Lord!” Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ by receiving the Sacraments and making good resolutions, especially as the first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the Church year. While it’s easy to be overwhelmed during Advent, the spiritual aspects and the spirit of love, joy and good will reigns supreme and that should be our main focus! During Masses of Advent The Gloria isn’t sung because the Gloria wasn’t revealed until the First Christmas. Purple reflects the royalty of the Infant Jesus who will come again to Judge the living and the dead. This season we walk so closely with Mary and Joseph and in a special way when we receive the Eucharist, the Incarnation reoccurs in our own being and our hearts are made to be like that manger in Bethlehem that the Holy Couple prepared for the King of Kings. Throughout Advent we recall the events that directly lead to it such as the Annunciation and Visitation and St. Joseph’s life with Mary. In this season of giving Spread the Cheer USA is an organization that helps families in need during the Christmas season. In 2024 Advent begins on December 1st and thus we can offer our Advent prayers for World Aids Awareness Day.
Detailed Descriptions of Each Candle
More About Advent and Advent Customs
Gaudete Sunday: The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. The word guadete (pronounced gow-day-tay) is Latin for rejoice and gets its name from the opening prayer “Rejoice, in the Lord always…” As this Sunday is the midway between Advent and Christmas, we rejoice that the Lord’s nativity is nigh! Pope Francis reflects on this Sunday as not a day of frantic worry for Christmas preparations but joy in what God has given us. This is the point to recognize the humility and simplicity of the first Christmas which ought to be the centerpiece of our own Christmas. The joy in Christ’s birth being around the corner is the reason for the institution of the Blessing of the Bambinelli.
O’ Come, O’ Come Emmanuel Lyrics
An Advent Guide for Busy Catholics
The Advent Experiences of St. Gertrude
A Mystic Witnesses The Promise of the Redeemer
Local Advent Penance Services (Buffalo)
December 17th begins The O Antiphons which concludes on December 23rd. The O Antiphon is recited and then The Magnificat and then the Antiphon is repeated. The link above includes an activity for each as well if so desired.
A custom started by St. Catherine of Bologna was to recite 1,000 Hail Marys on Christmas Eve. Mary appeared to the Saint one Christmas Eve and placed the Child Jesus in her arms. This devotion was changed to praying 40 Hail Marys from 11/29-12/23 or 11/30-12/24 which adds up to 1,000 and enriches the Advent season, making it truly Marian.
Another popular devotion is to pray the following 15 times a day from 11/30 to Christmas Eve.
Advent Customs Worldwide
Knocking Nights- German folklore believed on Thursdays in Advent, evil spirits were out and about. On one of the 3 final Thursdays of Advent parades of children would sing carols and make loud noises and get small gifts in return.
Christmas Lads- To make sure children are behaving each day until Christmas starting December 11th a Christmas Lad would arrive. Starting on Christmas Day one Christmas Lad will depart until Epiphany.
Christmas in Guatemala- Local folklore tells of the increased activity of the devil during the first week of Advent. Locals would dress up as devils and scare children each night until December 7th. On this day commences "The Burning of the Devil." Great bonfires of items to be discarded are built and topped with fireworks. These fires chase away the devil and symbolize the home and heart being cleaned to prepare room for the Christ Child.
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