Advent
and
Christmas
2016 - 2017 |
|
Nov 27, 2016
to
Jan 8, 2017 |
|
|
Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent
(from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to")
is the season encompassing the four
Sundays (and weekdays) leading up
to the celebration of Christmas.
The Advent season is a time of preparation that
directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s
second coming at the end of time and
also to the anniversary of the Lord’s
birth on Christmas Day.
The final days of Advent, from December 17
to December 24, focus particularly on our
preparation for the celebrations of the
Nativity of our Lord (Christmas).
Advent devotions, including the Advent wreath,
remind us of the meaning of the season.
However, Christmas is not over when
Advent concludes on December 24...
...the liturgical season of Christmas continues with the vigil
Masses on Christmas Eve (Dec 24, 2016), Solemnity
of the Epiphany of the Lord on Jan 1, 2017 and
concludes with Feast of the Solemnity of
the Baptism of the Lord, Jan 8, 2017.
During this entire season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into
our world and into our hearts, and reflect on the gift of
salvation that is born with him; including the
fact that he was born to die for us.
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