What is Advent?

The simplest way to explain it is, Advent is a time of anticipation for Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. But that is only part of it. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” In the Greek translation, this means parousia.
Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries, Advent was a season of ‘preparation’ for the baptism of new Christian’s at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), His baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and His first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christian’s would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for the celebration. By the 6th century, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. The “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming … but His second coming as the Judge of the world (see Revelation). It was not until the Middle Ages when the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming … Christmas.
Advent Readings and Prayer

Advent readings are broken down for each Sunday of Advent:
1) Hope (or promise)
2) Preparation (waiting or prophecy)
3) Joy (peace)
4) Love (adoration)
Prayer is a wonderful and most powerful way to open your heart and prepare for the joy and hope of Christ’s birth. Here is a sample prayer to use during the season to focus your heart and mind on the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior. Read more
Day 1 – St. Andrew Advent Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
In which the Son of God was born
Of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight, in Bethlehem,
in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
(Mention your request here…)
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,
and of His Blessed Mother.
Amen.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
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