Quietly Awaiting…
20/11/05
Next Sunday we begin the season of Advent (from the Latin 'aventus,' meaining "awaiting" or "arrival"), lasting in the Western Church from the Sunday nearest St. Andrew's Day 'til Christmas Eve. We begin our Christian calendar year with Joseph and Mary "awaiting" on The First Sunday of Advent.
A season of penitence, of waiting, Advent marks this period of preparation for the celebration of the nativity; however, Advent has always contained an element of joyful anticipation of Christmas.
The liturgical color is purple (the color of penitence, also used during Lent), although in recent years blue has gained favor, a revival of the Sarum (Salisbury) Rite, which dates from medieval England.
With the view of directing the thoughts of to the first coming of Christ as Saviour, special lessons are prescribed for each of the four Sundays in Advent, which are traditionally celebrated with four candles, representing the themes of hope, faith, joy, and peace. Usually on an Advent wreath, one candle is to be lit each Sunday.
In many countries, Advent was long marked by diverse popular observances, some of which still survive. In England there was a custom for poor women to carry round the "Advent images;" two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A halfpenny was expected from every one to whom these were exhibited, and bad luck was to menace the household not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve.
A season of penitence, of waiting, Advent marks this period of preparation for the celebration of the nativity; however, Advent has always contained an element of joyful anticipation of Christmas.
The liturgical color is purple (the color of penitence, also used during Lent), although in recent years blue has gained favor, a revival of the Sarum (Salisbury) Rite, which dates from medieval England.
With the view of directing the thoughts of to the first coming of Christ as Saviour, special lessons are prescribed for each of the four Sundays in Advent, which are traditionally celebrated with four candles, representing the themes of hope, faith, joy, and peace. Usually on an Advent wreath, one candle is to be lit each Sunday.
In many countries, Advent was long marked by diverse popular observances, some of which still survive. In England there was a custom for poor women to carry round the "Advent images;" two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A halfpenny was expected from every one to whom these were exhibited, and bad luck was to menace the household not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve.