THE ADVENT, A SEASON OF GRACE

“Liturgy is the source and summit of Christian life” (LG, No. 11). Christians who are united in Christ celebrate the mystery of salvation as one family. Christ is the source and origin of the liturgy. It is the greatest act of Christ. Liturgy, therefore, unites all faithful with Christ’s family. Vatican II Council expresses this beautifully:

Holy Mother Church is conscious that she must celebrate the saving work of her divine Spouse by devoutly recalling it on certain days throughout the course of the year. Every week, on the day which she has called the Lord’s Day, she keeps the memory of the Lord’s resurrection, which she also celebrates once in the year, together with His blessed passion, in the most solemn festival of Easter. Within the cycle of a year, moreover, she unfolds the whole mystery of Christ, from the incarnation and birth until the ascension, the day of Pentecost, and the expectation of blessed hope and of the coming of the Lord. Recalling thus the mysteries of redemption, the Church opens to the faithful the riches of her Lord’s powers and merits, so that these are in some way made present for all time, and the faithful are enabled to lay hold upon them and become filled with saving grace (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 102).

Liturgical Year

Throughout the Liturgical Year, various parts of the Paschal mysteries are celebrated. The year begins not in January, but on the first Sunday of Advent (the Sunday after Christ the King feast) which is followed by the mysteries of Incarnation (Christmas Season), then a short period of Ordinary Season and Lent and Paschal Season and ends in a longer period of Ordinary Season. Ordinary Season is numbered as Ordinary Sunday 1, 2, 3… till Ordinary Sunday 33 or 34; whereas, the other season are numbered according to the Sundays of the Season proper.

Advent Season

The word Advent comes from the Latin root, ‘adventus’ which means ‘coming’ or ‘arriving.’ For people other than Christians, it was the time to come back to the temple to worship their deities once a year. It is also understood as, the period of the visit of the king to his people each year. For the people, the visit of the king was a period of grace.

A tenth-century hymn explains the meaning of Advent more beautifully:

You are our eternal salvation,

The unfailing light of the world.

Light everlasting,

You are truly our redemption.

Grieving that the human race was perishing

Through the tempter’s power

Without leaving the heights

You came to the depths in your loving kindness.

Readily taking the humanity by your gracious will,

You saved all earthly creatures, long since lost,

Restoring joy to the world.

Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,

And so possess us as Your shining dwellings.

By your first coming, make us righteous;

At your second coming, set us free:

So that, when the world is filled with light

And you judge all things,

We may be clad in spotless robes

And follow in your steps, O King,

Into the heavenly hall.

Liturgy and Advent Season

There are four weeks in the Advent season given as a preparation for the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, just as the Lenten Season for Easter. Christmas Season begins on the eve of Christmas till the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Advent season begins the Sunday after Christ the King till the Eve of Christmas. This period is again divided into two parts: i). First Sunday of Advent till 16^th December, ii). 17^th December till 24^th December.  Both parts express the preparation for Christmas, however, the second part gives prominence to more intense preparation. The Church invites every faithful to joyfully prepare for the mystery of incarnation and at the same time eagerly look for the second coming of Christ.

History of Advent

In the early years of Christianity, the Christians were followers of the Judaic religion and their festivities. Later, as the Church grew, they opted for the celebration of the events connected with their founder, Jesus Christ. The Christians either stopped many Judaic feasts or re-interpreted them in the light of newly found faith. The first feast they celebrated was the ‘Pasch’ on one Sunday. Gradually, the feast of Pasch was extended for a few days. In order to celebrate it more meaningfully, a period of preparation is added which is called, the Lenten period.

However, the celebration of Advent and Christmas is much later. The first Christmas celebrated was in Rome in the year 330 AD. Non-Christians were worshipping ‘Sun God’ and they celebrated it on 25^th December. Christians adapted this feast as Christ is a perfect symbol of Light who enlightens the mind and hearts of people. Christ is Light par excellence. So, the feast of Christ as New Light (Sun) gave a perfect symbol for Christians and a reason to celebrate. This was followed by the need for the preparation of Christmas just as Lent for Easter. So, a period of eight days (17-24 December) was added and this period is named ‘Advent,’ the joyful coming of Jesus. Thus, in the year 490 AD, the first Advent Season was celebrated. The Council of Saragossa (also known as Caesaraugusta 380 AD) made it obligatory to attend the Eucharistic Celebration from December 17 till January 6 (Feast of Epiphany). It is to be noted here, that the first Christmas was celebrated not on December 25, but on 6^th January as the Feast of Epiphany. At the same time, the Bishop of Tours requested the faithful to fast thrice from November 11 till Christmas. Thus, with different traditions and celebrations, the season became the season of grace.

On the day of Christmas, the Roman Church celebrated three Masses (Vigil Mass, Midnight Mass and Morning Mass) stressing the historical coming and incarnation of Jesus. On the other hand, the Eastern Church gave importance to the Second Coming of Christ. Later, both these events were incorporated into one mystery as the celebration of the Second Coming (Advent) and Incarnation (Christmas). In AD 604, Pope Gregory the Great extended the Advent for four weeks.

Liturgy of Advent

On the first two Sundays, the liturgy stresses the first and second coming of Jesus. Thus, the Church invites the faithful to welcome the Saviour with proper preparation. Therefore, on these Sundays the readings are from Isaiah, the episodes of John the Baptist and from the teachings of St. Paul regarding the second coming of Jesus. In the remaining two weeks the Church wants the faithful to walk closely with Mary in her final days of the conception of the Word.

Some of the themes for the subsequent Sundays can be as follows: First Sunday: Open the door of salvation from within / You are the potter and we are the clay / Our salvation is at hand. Second Sunday: Prepare the way for the Lord / make your path straight / Christ is the Salvation. Third Sunday: Eternal Salvation is close at hand / be the witnesses of light / the Lord your God is amidst you. Fourth Sunday: Know your path/place of rest/cousins of the Savior.

Advent Wreath

The wreath probably dates back to pre-Christian times when in Scandinavia especially and less so in Germany a wheel was decorated with candles and prayers were offered up to the God of Light to turn the wheel of the earth toward the sun and bring about the longer warmer days. In the Middle Ages it became customary to use the wreath as a means for Christians to prepare during Advent for Christmas.

Advent wreath was not common till the 19^th century. It is said to be a Lutheran initiative. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. The green prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of our soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world becoming true man and who was victorious over sin and death through His own passion, death, and resurrection. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent.:  and the colours of the candles are purple and rose. The purple colour represents the historical colour of Advent, and the rose, the Royalty (Prince of Peace). The third Sunday of Advent is also known as ‘Gaudete Sunday’ meaning Rejoicing Sunday. The fifth candle which is at the center is understood as Christ and is lit on the day of Christmas. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Saviour.

Christmas

In the first three centuries, Christians celebrated only Easter and the events connected to Easter. In AD 330 people began to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Together with this began to celebrate the feasts connected with it. There are two prominent reasons to celebrate Christmas on the 25^th of December.

i.    Jewish people had a belief that God began the creation on the 25^th of March. Thus, the Christians too believed that it was the first day of creation. Some early Christians believed that Mary became pregnant on this day and on the same day Jesus died on the Cross. If March 25 becomes the first day of creation, then 25^th December becomes the day of Re-Creation in Mary’s womb. Thus, it is apt to believe that the crown of renewed creation, Jesus was born on 25^th December.

ii.    Back in Rome, in the year 274 AD King Aurelius ordered to celebrate 25 December as the feast of ‘Sun God’ throughout his Kingdom. Jewish and Christian people were mostly shepherds and farmers who depended mostly on stellar movements especially the sun and moon for any celebration.  December 25 is the longest day in every part of the world. Thus, it was apt to celebrate the feast of the Sun God on this day. But for the Christians, it was ‘idol worship’ to do so. Therefore, the Christians adapted this into their new faith: Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12). Thus, people began to celebrate the day as ‘Sunday’ and for Christians, it was the day of the Invincible Sun. As the years passed, the Western Church began to celebrate Christmas on the 25^th of December whereas the Eastern Church celebrated it on the 6^th of December (for example, the Armenian Church).

Crib and Carol Singing

St. Francis of Assisi, friend of nature is credited with creating the first Nativity scene in 1223 in Italy. He began this in a cave with living beings, humans and animals depicting the biblical roles. Pope Honorius III gave official permission and blessings for this novel thought. Later, the living beings were replaced with statues. The purpose of this physical representation in the form of a crib is to bring to mind the actual reason why Christmas is celebrated. This also has the effect of evangelization. The entire Jesus story can be narrated in a pictorial form without any explanation.

The Angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of all kind,” at the time of Jesus’ birth to announce the Good News and to glorify God. With this meaning today Christmas Carols are sung everywhere. The meaning of a carol in the present day is much different to the original one. Formerly, a carol was a secular dance which was performed at any time of the year. People danced around in a circle holding hands and singing songs. The dance reminded onlookers of a coronet so they called it a ‘carol.’ The word Carol derives from the French language carrole which means a circle dance accompanied by singers. The name was transferred later on from the dance to the song itself. Carols by the 16^th century were sung only at Christmas time. The subject is also related to Christmas. At one stage the Christmas carols were only sung by the bishop and clergy in the churches. But became popular amongst the public and were soon sung in the streets and other public places. Carol singers tell the story of the birth of Christ in songs during the days leading up to Christmas.

Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree has a traditional history. It began in Germany almost 1,000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. But it was not until the 16th century that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas time. Today any coniferous tree which is evergreen could be taken as a Christmas Tree. It is decorated with various pictures, lights and wrappers.

Some people also say that this tree represents the ‘paradise tree’ and therefore, apples (round objects like balls representing first sin) and wafers (host representing Christ’s redemption) are hanged on this. Along with this A Bright star at the top, decorated with lights and candles shows it is the sign of Christ. Further, the everlasting green colour of the tree represents the everlasting hope of mankind and its triangular shape, the tip being pointed upwards shows man’s thoughts and mind pointing towards heaven.

Other feasts in the Christmas Season

Major Feasts

·         Feast of Holy Family: it is celebrated on the first Sunday of the season

·         Epiphany of Our Lord: celebrated on the second Sunday of the Season

·         Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ: celebrated on the third Sunday of the season

Minor Feasts

·         26 December: St. Stephen, the first Martyr

·         27 December: St. John the Evangelist

·         1 January : Mary Mother of God

Conclusion

Advent and Christmas season is the period of grace. People had to wait for a long period to for the first coming of Jesus. When historical truth was actualized, the subsequent people looked for the second coming of Jesus. The second coming is nothing but his imminent coming in our own lives. He is coming into our lives in different forms. Let us all welcome him.

Advent is the time to reflect on God-becoming-human mystery: the incarnation of God in a humble state, identifying Himself with the poor marginalized, becoming one with despised and misunderstood, having empathy and sympathy with the people who are deprived of various things such as food, clothing, shelter, love, friendship and all paradoxes of life.

Let us welcome him not like people who have no hope but as people of joy. The second coming should be a joyful event and not with gloomy faces. In order to welcome Him, therefore, need to light the lamp of faith, hope and charity. There is a need to reform ourselves, a need to level the grounds of pain and distress. There is a need to change our attitude. Come Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.  

References:

Boniface Pinto, Hanga Asa Tujo Dev [Here is your God], (Mangalore: Mangala Jyothi, 2007).

Paul, “Advent Talk,” available in  http://www.ctk-cov.org.uk/advent/2009/Advent%20Talk%20I.pdf

Raju Felix Crasta, “Symbolic Christmas,” http://rfcrasta.blogspot.in/2011/12/symbolic-christmas_3897.html

Fr. Raju Felix Crasta