The Institute for Christian Formation
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First Sunday of Advent
November 27, 2016
The word “advent” means coming. The Church teaches us that during Advent we wait for two comings of Christ: we prepare to celebrate Christmas, when Christ first came into the world; and, we wait for Christ’s second coming at the end of time. (See General Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar, Paragraph 39, from Documents on  the Liturgy, 1963-1979, Conciliar, Papal and Curial Texts © 1982, ICEL.)

Advent begins at sundown, the eve of the fourth Sunday before Christmas and concludes at sundown on Christmas Eve.  The

First Sunday of Advent also heralds the beginning of the new Church Year, or Liturgical Year.

Advent is a time of preparation and waiting.  Violet, which expresses penance and/or waiting, is the primary liturgical color during this season.  Rose, however, is the color for the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday. 
As Catholic Christians, we are called to reject the secular, commercial culture of already celebrating Christmas, and to faithfully keep the season of Advent until sundown Christmas Eve, when the Christmas Season begins.  We keep Advent in many ways in our homes: the family Advent Wreath, the Jesse Tree, the O Antiphons (December 17-23).   We celebrate special Advent Feast Days, such as the Feast of Saint Nicholas (December 6), the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12), and the Feast of St. Lucy (December 13). 

It is only in keeping Advent and not rushing the Christmas Season that we will be ready for the Lord when He comes!
Click on image above to download our 4-page bulletin on the Season of Advent.
On this first Sunday of Advent, make an Advent Wreath for your home.  Gather some fresh evergreen trimming, four candles (three violet and one rose colored), and an Advent Wreath ring/form.  Visit your local Catholic Supply store or hobby/craft shop to purchase the wreath ring and candles.  You can also purchase wreath rings and candles on line from sources such as Autom. 

You can also use other items to decorate your Advent Wreath.  For example, I tie violet and rose ribbons around the base of each candle in my wreath. 
Once your wreath is assembled, celebrate a Blessing of your Advent Wreath and light the first violet candle.

"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is a wonderful Advent hymn to sing as you light your Advent Wreath each day of Advent.  You can download the words and music to this hymn here.




Did you know you can access the Scripture readings assigned to every day of the Church Year at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' web site?  Click here.
Lectionary Cycle A - The Year of Matthew

The First Sunday of Advent is not only the beginning of a new liturgical year, but it also signals the beginning of a new lectionary cycle - the cycle of readings.  This year our Sunday Cycle is Year A - The Gospel of Saint Matthew, and our Weekday Cycle is Cycle I.  You can access today's readings here.
Saint Matthew the Evangelist
Illuminated Manuscript
14th century
Vatopedi Monastery
Mt. Athos, Greece
You can find more about the Lectionary and  the Scriptures used during Mass here.

Happy New Liturgical Year!