First Sunday of Advent

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love all the smells and bells that go with this glorious season. Candle light, evergreen branches covered in twinkling lights, roaring fires, mince pies, carol singing, midnight mass, the whole nine yards.

The word Advent means " coming or arrival,"we see the God who created the Heavens and the earth humbly coming down to earth as a little babe to live amongst us. This is something to really celebrate, to rejoice in. God Almighty deigns to descend from his Heavenly home to live amongst  his children as one of us, to redeem all of mankind from their sins. This is the start of the journey that will ultimately lead to the cross and Christ's execution and our redemption.

Like Lent, Advent is a time of preparation. In the Gospel of the day we are warned by Jesus, not as a gentle appeal but as a firm exhortation to "be watchful, alert." For we do not know when he will return. It is a reminder to us all that we should not be spiritually complacent but always listening and preparing for the return of the master. So as we begin to look towards this great feast we need to pray for our hearts to be renewed, we must allow His light to pierce our darkness, to fill us, heal us, and restore us so that we can go and take the light out into the world.

Advent is a season that speaks joyfully to a child's heart. There are many ways to help children enter into the spirit of the season;

Advent Candles can be found in many shops. It is nice if you can get one with Christmas symbols on. It is lit each day from the 1st until the 24th.

Advent calendar: The best ones are those that depict the Christmas story. Open one window each day to see the picture and maybe read a bit of Scripture.

The Advent wreath: the Advent wreath originated in Germany and is an ancient symbol of victory. In Christian symbolism it represents "the fulfillment of time" in the coming of Christ and the glory of his birth.

 The Advent wreath can be made as a table decoration or hung from a ceiling. It should be circular as a symbol to everlasting life and made from evergreen branches, to signify Gods "everlasting ness" and our immortality. There are four candles, three purple, one pink. The purple signify penance, prayer and longing or preparation. The pink one represents the coming joy, " Rejoice in The Lord always;again I say rejoice." A white candle can be placed in the middle of the wreath which is lit after sundown on Christmas Eve, or after midnight mass to announce the arrival of the Redeemer.

One by one each candle should be lit on Sunday Evening during Advent. The candles can then be lit each evening during the family mealtime, (though you may need to replace the candles over the period.) Lighting the candles on the wreath can be a simple way of starting a tradition of family prayer in the home. It is nice if this first candle is the only source of light, we can explain to the
children that we are all in spiritual darkness, but we are moving towards the light. Each week as we light the candles the children will see how much brighter the light is becoming. Before lighting the candles a simple blessing can be prayed by the Father or the head of the household:

"O God, by whose words all things are sanctified, pour forth thy blessing upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may we receive from thee abundant graces. Through Christ our Lord Amen."
Then if you have some Holy Water sprinkle the wreath with it.

 Then when lighting the first candle pray these words
"Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.

Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ's promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen."