What does advent mean?
~By Mary Jeppson
Fall is upon us and it’s the time of the year when we get caught up in all kinds of activities. There’s hunting, shopping, Thanksgiving, baking, parties, Christmas pageants, craft fairs and Advent! Advent?
So, what does Advent mean? I looked up the word advent in the dictionary. It is defined as “a coming or arrival, as of any important event or person.” I then read what is under Advent (this word was capitalized). It was defined as “the birth of Christ, the season from Advent Sunday to Christmas.” Better, but there had to be more. Next I chose to look up Advent in the New American Bible – Fireside personal study edition. Like the dictionary it read an “arrival or coming.”
However, there was more information! It read “Advent is the penitential season which precedes Christmas and also marks the beginning of the liturgical year of the Church. The exact duration of Advent varies from year to year, but it always begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. During Advent the themes of hope and expectation are accentuated. The Church prepares to celebrate the coming of the Lord in human flesh and blood through the birth of Jesus. Though a penitential season, there is no compulsory fast or abstinence.”
Advent is a time for joyful hope and expectation. The four weeks of Advent provide us with
opportunity to pause and think about all we have been given and what God longs to give us. Advent provides a chance to gather ourselves in the present through a daily ritual of prayer whether it is daily mass, time in the Eucharistic Adoration chapel or making an Advent wreath and reading devotional books.
As a child I remember we always had an Advent wreath. There were three purple candles and one pink candle and the priest’s vestments matched them! That was the extent of my knowledge of the wreath.
Over time, I have learned about the symbolism of the wreath. The circle symbolizes eternity, the evergreens signify everlasting life and the four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. The three purple candles symbolize prayer, penance, sacrifices and good works. The pink candle represents a time of rejoicing for our journey of preparation for the birth of Jesus is almost over. Each Sunday of Advent a candle is lit during a traditional prayer service with the family. The wreath and prayers help us in preparation for Christmas. Lighting of the candles represents our expectation and hope of the first coming of our Lord into the world.
Advent is a time to renew our faith and prepare for Christmas and not lose sight of its true meaning.