Advent (Latin for "Arrival"): A Season of Preparation 

Many people have difficulty with the holidays because of the stress caused by commercialism. Some resign themselves helplessly to the consumer chaos while others hold out to the bitter end and refuse to participate in any way, making themselves "Christian Scrooges," if you will. Thankfully, the ancient church gives us an alternative to this duality--the season of Advent. Ironically, Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical calendar, but takes place near the end of our modern calendar in late fall and concludes in early winter.

A Looking Back:

        Advent invites us to enter into the spirit of the ancient prophets who ached for the coming of the Messiah. In meditating on the prophesies of Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, and others, we prepare for the celebration of the Incarnation (God becoming man)--in the nativity of Jesus Christ.

A Looking Forward:

        With same hope the ancients had for the Messiah to come, we prepare for the final return of Jesus as the Judge of Nations. It is a particular time to pray, fast, and give ourselves to acts of service to others. Contemplating "the end times" is not about charts and calendars, but a preparation to stand before the Judge of Judges.

A Looking Here and Now:

       “The spirit of the Advent liturgy, commemorating the age-long expectation of the Redeemer, will prepare us to celebrate the mystery of the Word made Flesh by arousing in each one of us an intimate, personal expectation of the renewed coming of Christ to our soul” (Father Gabriel From Divine Intimacy, 3).

Podcast: Why Celebrate Advent?