Advent Anew: Week 1

you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

THE ADVENT WREATH

The Advent wreath was brought to the United States by German immigrants in the early 20th Century. The four candles of the Advent wreath—three purple and one pink— mark the four Sundays of Advent and symbolize the light of Christ. The evergreen circle represents the eternal existence of God and the immortal soul. God’s love has no beginning and no end, but is felt especially at the birth of His Son, Jesus.

The flickering light of the wreath ignites a sense of hope during the weeks of waiting and days counting down until the birth of Christ. Many families place the wreath in a central spot in the home for prayer during Advent.

FEAST DAY OF ST. CATHERINE LABOURÉ

PATRON SAINT OF The Elderly COUNTRY OF ORIGIN France BORN 1806

Known for the “Miraculous Medal,” St. Catherine had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1830. This Marian apparition took place twenty years before the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed a Marian dogma by Pope Pius IX. Catherine received instructions to strike a medal with Our Lady’s image and the words: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Today, many Catholics wear this Miraculous Medal on a necklace.

“ALL HUMAN WISDOM IS CONTAINED IN THESE TWO WORDS WAIT AND HOPE.”

Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo

FEAST DAY OF ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE

PATRON SAINT OF Scotland and Fishermen

Andrew, one of the first of the twelve apostles, was a disciple of John the Baptist before Jesus invited him to “Come and see.” After he encountered Jesus, Andrew said to his brother, Simon Peter, “We have found the Messiah” which means anointed one in Hebrew. Jesus called the two brothers, “Follow me” (Jn. 1:35-42). If it were not for Andrew’s faith, trust and willingness to follow the Lord, the Church would not have had her first pope, St. Peter!

Advent invites us to renew the call to follow Jesus in our thoughts, words and actions.

“O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL”

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel; That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer, Our Spirits by Thine Advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Lord of Might Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height, In ancient times didst give the law, In cloud, and majesty, and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

This stirring, 12th Century Advent hymn has its roots in the O Antiphons, a series of seven lyrical verses that are chanted or sung during evening prayer the seven days preceding Christmas Eve. The most famous rendition was composed by J.M. Neale in English in 1851. The title “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” recounts when the Angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph to reveal the birth of Jesus:

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Mt 1:23.

Pope Benedict XVI

Advent is traditionally a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, but with a distinct character of expectant joy. During this time of year, it can be difficult to strike a balance between preparations and presence. In Advent, we look to find pockets of time to be with Him amidst the hustle and bustle.

“ONE WHO HAS HOPE LIVES DIFFERENTLY.”

STRAW IN THE CRECHE

Create a small manger out of wood or use a small basket or an old shoebox as a creche. Place it in a visible spot in the home where children can see and will be reminded to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Mk. 1:3).

When anyone in the household does a kind deed or gesture, that person can place a piece of yellow yarn or straw into the creche as a tangible sign of how we are preparing our hearts and homes to welcome the Christ Child.

On Christmas Day, the Christ Child is placed in the creche upon the straw that symbolizes our gift to Him.