1. What is Advent?
Advent is the first season of
the liturgical year in the
Catholic Church.
It always begins on the
fourth Sunday before
Christmas Day - which is
also the Sunday closest to
November 30 - and ends
on Christmas Eve.
2. ADVENT
The word “Advent” comes
from the Latin word
Adventus, which means
“the coming.”
During these four weeks
we are preparing for the
celebration of the coming
of Jesus.
3. ADVENT
Centuries ago, Advent was
a preparation not for
Christmas, but for
Epiphany - when new
Christians were baptized.
New believers spent
Advent's 40 days doing
penance – just like Lent.
That’s why we see violet
in church during Advent.
4. ADVENT
During Advent we are
asked in the readings at
Mass to prepare
the way of the Lord.
We prepare at home, in
school and at the church.
But the most important
preparation is what
happens in our hearts.
5. We make room for Jesus in
our hearts by loving as
Jesus did, by being kind,
forgiving, sharing, caring,
and being obedient.
During Advent, we can
prepare the way of the
Lord by repenting and
being sorry for our sins.
7. ADVENT WREATH
The Advent Wreath is a very
old custom that originally
came from Germany.
It is made of evergreens
bounded to a circle of wire.
Four candles are placed on
the wreath along the outside.
The candles along the outside
are equally spaced apart.
Three of these are purple
and one is rose (pink)
colored. Sometimes a candle
in the center is white.
8. ADVENT WREATH
The circle reminds us that
God’s love has no beginning
and no end. The green leaves
remind us that God’s love
never changes.
One candle is lit on each
Sunday of Advent. The rose
(pink) colored candle is lit
on the third Sunday of
Advent, sometimes known
as Gaudete Sunday.
A white candle in the center of
the wreath can be lit on
Christmas Eve.
