The Liturgical year begins with the four-week period of preparation we refer to as Advent.

The word Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “the coming”. Its roots lie in pagan and Roman tradition where each celebrated the coming of a god or emperor respectively. Since people were familiar with the meaning, it was convenient to use this word to speak of the coming of the Son of God into the temple of a human being, the Incarnation, for His coming to His people.

As Christianity bloomed, the word Advent gradually became limited to describe what was considered the only real coming, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The actual Liturgical season of Advent came into being around the mid-6th century originally with six Sundays leading up to Christmas but was changed by Pope St. Gregory the Great (AD 591-604) to the four preceding Sundays to Christmas.

The Church has recognizable symbols for Advent. The first are colors Purple and Rose. Purple is used to decorate the sanctuary and the church. The clergy also wear purple vestments. Rose is worn by the clergy on Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent. Another important symbol is the Advent wreath. Traditionally the wreath has three purple candles and one rose candle that represent each week of Advent. You may also see a white candle in the center that is usually lit on Christmas Eve for the Birth of Christ. It symbolizes purity.

Advent celebrates and remembers Jesus’ First Coming to us. It also is a time to direct our minds and hearts to wait for His Second Coming at the end of time.

During Advent we meditate upon Jesus’ comings.
He came to us Incarnate, the Word made Flesh, through the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. He comes now to us in the Holy Eucharist at every Mass. He will come again in the end to judge the living and the dead. Let us celebrate and remember the gift of His life at Christmas. Let us receive Him in the Sacrament of Holy Communion with reverence and previously cleansed of our mortal sins. And let us prepare our minds, our hearts, and our souls to live in union with Him in the end by living a moral, virtuous life. Only God knows when He will return in the end! Let us always be prepared!

Other resources:
USCCB – What is Advent?
St. Francis de Sales Advent Confessions Schedule
Bishop Barron - Three Comings of Christ Prepare us for Advent
Fr. Mike Schmitz - Advent: More Than a Chocolate Calendar