Background Information - Advent
The Liturgical Year
The Liturgical
Year is comprised of six seasons (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2015). These seasons include Advent, Christmas, Lent, Paschal Triduum,
Easter and Ordinary Time (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2015). The Liturgical Seasons allow Christian’s to
celebrate and engage in the Mystery of Jesus Christ from his birth through to
his death and resurrection (Catholic Education Archdiocese of Brisbane, 2011,
p.2).
The Liturgical Season: Advent
The Christian Liturgical
Year begins with the Liturgical Season of Advent (Catholic Education
Archdiocese of Brisbane, 2011, p. 1). Advent commences on the Sunday which falls closest to November 30th (Harrison, 2010, p.1). This year (2015), Advent will commence on Sunday the 29th of November (Archdiocese of Brisbane, 2015). The word ‘Advent’ comes from the Latin
word ‘advenio’, meaning ‘to come’
(Storer, 2007, p.1). Advent is described as being a season which prepares for
the ‘coming’ of Christ (Storer, 2007, p.1). The United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops (2015) further expounds upon this idea providing that “Advent
has a twofold character…it is a time of preparation for …the first coming of
the Son of God….and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and
hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time” (p.
1).
For a brief background regarding symbols, objects and actions associated with the season click here |
(Catholic Education Archdiocese of Brisbane, 2011, p. 1)
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