Advent - a time of preparation

Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (meaning, "ad-venio in Latin or "to come to") is the season 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. Advent devotions remind us of the meaning of the season. Special Advent devotions include the lighting of the Advent wreath; the Advent calendar which helps remind us of the season with daily thoughts and activities; Advent prayers that prepare us spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ.

The use of the Advent Wreath is a traditional practice which has found its place in the Church as well as in the home. The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent.  When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family.

All make the sign of the cross as the leader says:

Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Response (R/.) Who made heaven and earth.
Then the Scripture, Isaiah 9: (lines 1-2 and 5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 & 19) or Isaiah 64  (lines 2-7) is read:

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
R/. Thanks be to God.
With hands joined, the leader says:
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.
The blessing may conclude with a verse from
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:
O come, desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind;
bid ev’ry sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

—From "Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers"

The Rite of Welcome and Acceptance

The secular world seems to begin the celebration of Christmas earlier and earlier each year - a fact demonstrated most blatantly by the expansion of Black Friday creeping intrusively into our quiet holiday of giving thanks.  Perhaps unnoticed by many who are busy with shopping and decorating this weekend, comes the first Sunday of Advent and its annual observation of the Rite of Welcome and Acceptance in the Roman Catholic Church. 

This Rite is a beautiful addition to our Sunday liturgy as we as a parish welcome those who have been participating in the discussions of the Inquiry Group since September.  We now have the opportunity to extend a welcome to those who are ready to begin a new period of discussion and learning - the Period of the Catechumenate.  Our Inquirers will now be Candidates (those baptized Christians coming from the traditions of our Christian brethren) and Catechumen (those who are not yet baptized). 

Please pray for Candidates and Catechumen who throughout the world are participating in the Rite of Welcome in Catholic liturgies this weekend.  Please also pray for anyone who is on a journey, searching for God.  We walk with them this Sunday and always.