At the beginning of the Liturgical Year we find the Season of Advent The word Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus, meaning “coming” which is a translation of the Greek word Parousia. Many people think the Advent Season is an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas, but this is only part of the story. In the 4th and 5th centuries, Advent was a season of preparation for the Baptism of the new Christians. Christians would spend 40 days in penances, prayer and fasting to prepare for baptism. By the 6th century, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ, but the coming they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. It was only until middle ages that the Advent Season was linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas. In the interval between the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem and the second coming of Christ in glory, we find meaning for our life as Christians. We will be awake and watchful. He will not find us asleep!
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This feast was instituted by Pope Pious XI in 1925 when the respect for Christ and the Church was waning and it is celebrated on the final Sunday of Ordinary Time, the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. Today, when individualism has been embraced, we honour Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, recalling that his Kingship is one of humility and service. The kingdom is tied to his suffering and death; his teachings spell out a Kingdom of Justice and Judgment balanced with radical LOVE, MERCY, PEACE AND FORGIVENESS.
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Father's Blog
Rev. Fr. Christopher Tracey
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