Advent & Christmas

Advent: The first season of the church's liturgical year, beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ending with the first Eucharist of Christmas. It is a time for penance, reflection and preparation for the coming of Christ.

 Christmas: Christmas is the feast commemorating the birth of Christ and the coming of hope for all people. It is fixed in the liturgical year as December 25 and is preceded by four weeks of fast called Advent.
 

  • Advent

    • Catholics celebrate a season before Christmas called Advent (The four-week period before Christmas).

      Advent gives us those four short weeks to reflect on what the coming of Christ can mean for us; how may we recognise Him in our own lives and how can we make Him welcome?

      During the Advent season we also reflect on the birth of Christ. We try to remember the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus - and Catholics are encouraged to prepare themselves spiritually for the birth of the Lord, through prayer, reading the Bible, meditation, and attending Mass. Catholics are also encouraged to go to confession during Advent.

  • The Advent Wreath

    • Many Catholics use an Advent wreath to signify the process of waiting during the weeks of Advent. Candles are lit to symbolise the light of god coming into the world through the birth of Christ.

      The Advent wreath is a circle made out of evergreens and five candles. Each day during Advent the candles are lit.

      On the first, second & fourth Sundays of Advent a purple candle is lit (each day any of the candles that have been lit are re-lit). The colour purple, as used during the period of lent, reminds us to prepare a welcome for Jesus during the Advent season.

      On the third Sunday of advent a pink candle is lit. Pink is the colour of joy, to remind us that we should be ready to welcome Christ at Christmas.

      On Christmas Eve the white candle is lit, to celebrate the Birth of Christ—The Light of the World.

      If you own an Advent wreath, you can light the candles before dinner or at any time that your family is together. Some families also take this time to read Advent meditations and passages of the Bible and to discuss the importance of Jesus in their lives.

      At the beginning of Advent:

      How dark outside!
      but see - a star's in the sky;
      Mary and Joseph are passing by.
      So let's light a candle to welcome them
      as they go on their way to Bethlehem.

      We'll light a candle in church each day,
      We'll light one candle each week and pray.

      We'll light a candle at home each day,
      We'll light a candle each week and pray.

      Prayer while lighting the Advent candle:
      (a family prayer for every day of Advent)

      O God,
      as light comes from this candle,
      may the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us,
      warming our hearts and
      brightening our way.
      May Christ our Saviour bring life
      into the darkness of this world,
      and to us, as we wait for his coming.

  • Christmas

    • The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ.  Keeping Christmas holy is important: Jesus Christ is the true reason we celebrate Christmas.

      Few times are more sacred for a family or household than Christmas. Along with the Advent Season, Christmas time is rich in traditions, which, despite modern commercial exploitation, still stir our hearts and imagination. The Christmas tree, the manger scene, the music and carols, the lights shining in the winter darkness joyfully proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ and call us to come and adore him.

     

     

     

     

     

Disclaimer:   The contents of this website are provided in good faith and are not necessarily the views of the website authors, (St Thomas of Canterbury & the English Martyrs, Preston),  the Diocese, the Catholic Church or any other implied body.  The website authors are not responsible for any content of external websites linked to this site or material submitted by website visitors and users.  Your suggestions and views on the site content are welcomed and visitors are encouraged to communicate their comments to us. A comments page is included in this website and all legitimate or appropriate comments (and responses) will be posted for viewing.  All materials submitted to this site are carefully screened prior to publication; however, we apologise for any unforeseen offence or distress caused by any material contained herein.