Advent is that solemn time, immediately preceding Christmas, instituted by
the Church in order that we should, in the first place, meditate on the
Incarnation of Christ, the love, patience and humility which He has shown
us, and prove our gratitude to Him, because He came from the bosom of His
heavenly Father into this valley of tears, to redeem us; secondly, that we
may prepare ourselves by sincere repentance, fasting, prayer, alms-deeds,
and other works pleasing to God, for the coming of Christ and His birth in
our hearts, and thus participate in the graces which He has obtained for
us; finally, that He may be merciful to us, when He shall come again as
judge of the world. "Watch ye, for ye know not at what hour your Lord will
come" (Mt. 5:42). "Wherefore be you also ready; because at what hour you
know not, the Son of man will come" (Mt. 24:44).
How was Advent formerly observed?
Very differently from now. It then commenced with the Feast of St. Martin,
and was observed by the faithful like the Forty Days' Fast, with strict
penance and devotional exercises, as even now most of the religious
communities do to the present day. The Church has forbidden all turbulent
amusements, weddings, dancing and concerts, during Advent. Pope Sylverius
ordered that those who seldom receive Holy Communion should, at least, do
so on every Sunday in Advent.
How should this solemn time be spent by Christians?
They should recall, during these four weeks, the four thousand years in
which the just under the Old Law expected and desired the promised
Redeemer, think of those days of darkness in which nearly all nations were
blinded by saran and drawn into the most horrible crimes, then consider
their own sins and evil deeds and purify their souls from them by a worthy
reception of the Sacraments, so that our Lord may come with His grace to
dwell in their hearts and be merciful to them in life and in death.
Further, to awaken in the faithful the feelings of repentance so necessary
for the reception of the Savior in their hearts, the Church orders that
besides the observance of certain fast days, the altar shall be draped in
violet, that Mass shall be celebrated in violet vestments, that the organ
shall be silent and no Gloria sung. Unjust to themselves, disobedient to
the Church and ungrateful, indeed, to God are those Christians who spend
this solemn time of grace in sinful amusements without performing any good
works, with no longing for Christ's Advent into their hearts.
Taken from :
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year
