ADVENT
1. Meaning of Advent
2. Origin
3. Theme
4. Advent Wreath
5. Manger
6. Liturgical Colors
7. Other Aspects
8. Date of Christmas
9. Advent Scripture Readings
CPPoole,
Jr., November 28, 1999; revised July 19, 2005
1.
Meaning of Advent
Preparation
for Christmas
Counteracts
secular emphasis
Spirit of
expectation
Prepare the
way of the Lord and repent
Start of
Liturgical or Church Year
2.
Origin
Christmas was
a popular feast after the 4th century
then Advent evolved as a season
5th century
- emphasis on penance and fasting
Eastern
Church - 40 days of fasting to
prepare for the Epiphany Jan. 6
Penitential
ember days Mon, Wed and Sat
after the feast of St. Lucy Dec. 13
By the end
of the 6th century a 4 week period
of preparation for Christmas had
evolved
3. Theme
Advent is a
blend of three spirits:
penitential overtones like Lent
prepare for the coming of the Lord
joyful awaiting the birth of Christ
Latin word adventus means coming
John the
Baptist calls for repentance
Advent is a
preparation period for Christmas
4.
Advent Wreath
Dates from
the 1500's
Brought to
America by Germans
Used by
Lutherans, Catholics, others
Wreath is
blessed on 1st Sunday of Advent
The wreath
has four candles
three purple and one rose color
One for each week of advent
In a home
candles are lighted for the evening meal
Light one
the first week, two the second, etc.
Third week light rose candle for Gaudate
Sunday
5.
Manger
Children
prepare a manger
for family nativity scene
Child
places 1 straw in manger for
each good deed during each day
The Christ
child is added at Christmas
Magi and
camels approach after Christmas
and arrive at the Epiphany
6. Liturgical Colors
Purple is
the penitential color for Advent
Rose is the
color used on the third Sunday of Advent
called Gaudete
(rejoice) Sunday
It is a
time to pause in the middle of Advent
7. Other Aspects
Jesse tree
is named for the father of David
gradually add symbols for ancestors of Jesus
Advent
house with many windows
Open a
window each day of Advent
to view a scene of the coming of Jesus
Dec 24 open
the door for a view of the nativity scene
Advent
calendar for personal preparation
mark a spiritual goal for each day
8. Date
of Christmas
Word
Christmas means - Mass of Christ
4th century
Rome had a nativity festival
Winter
solstice was Dec. 25 on old Julian calendar
we now use Gregorian calendar (Pope
Gregory 1582)
5th century
Christmas began the Church year
In 10th
century Advent started the Church year
as is the case now
Christmas
tree originated in Germany
(Tannenbaum - fir tree)
9.
Advent Scripture Readings (Sunday)
Wk First reading Second reading Gospel reading
A
B C A B
C A B
C
1
Is-1 Is-3 Jer Rom 1Cor
1Th Mt Mk
Lk
2
Is-1 Is-2 Bar
Rom 2Ptr Phil
Mt Mk Lk
3
Is-1 Is-3 Zep Jms 1Th
Phil Mt Jhn Lk
4
Is-1 Sam Mic Rom Rom Heb
Mt Lk Lk
CPPoole, Jr.,November 28, 1999; revised
July 19, 2005