---> The Church’s liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent.
---> Advent begins on the Sunday nearest November 30th, which is the feast of St. Andrew, and lasts until December 24th.
---> The word Advent comes from the word adventus which means “coming.”
---> Advent is a season in the Church year when we remember how the Word of God became human in the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, which we celebrate on Christmas. During Advent we also reflect on and celebrate how Jesus comes into our lives and is present with us every day.
---> Advent is a time of hoping and working for a change of heart. We focus on being more open to the love of God in our lives, and the salvation offered through Jesus.
---> The Advent wreath is a tradition of the season. It is a symbol of our hope in Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world.
---> The circle and evergreens on the Advent wreath remind us of God’s everlasting love which has no beginning and no end.
---> The four unlit candles on the wreath remind us of the four thousand years before Christ’s birth, a time of spiritual “cold and darkness” as humanity awaited the birth of the Messiah. They also represent the four weeks of Advent.
---> It is customary to use three purple and one pink or white candle on the Advent wreath. The purple reminds us of the need for sorrow for our sins. The pink or white candle reminds us of the joy and hope we share in Jesus, the Light of the World, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
--->Advent begins with the lighting of one purple candle on the first Sunday of Advent. The pink candle is lit the third week when the Advent focus shifts to the special joy of the Christmas event. The increasing light of each week reminds us that Christmas is closer, and Christ’s presence continues to grow and brighten our lives. It also reminds us that by being Christ’s light today, we can brighten the “darkness” we find in our lives and in the world around us.
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Actually, only in the Latin Rite.
The Byzantines and Orthodox begin on September 1. Thus the year starts just before the birth of Mary (September 8), and ends shortly after her Assumption (August 15). Makes a lot of sense too actually.
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