Advent is a sacred time, a time to prepare our welcome of God’s Son as we ready our Churches, our hearts, and our homes for the birth of the Christ child. With Advent the ecclesiastical year begins in the Western Churches. During this time the faithful are admonished:

• to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love.

• thus to make their souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion through grace, and

• thereby to make themselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world.

Here are some changes in the Church that you will notice:

First, the color of the liturgical season goes from the green of Ordinary Time to violet for both the altar cloths and for the vestments which the priest celebrates as the presider of the liturgy during the weeks of Advent. Violet is a penitential color reminding us of our sinfulness and the need for God’s love and mercy in our own lives as a way to transform us to His Will. Second, our music is less festive and more focused on the coming of the birth of Christ, according to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), with a specific call for less organ music and more piano or acapella. An Advent Wreath with lighted candles—one lit for each of the four weeks of Advent take on the colors of the weeks—violet and pink, the latter for the third Sunday known as G/L Sunday—meaning Rejoice. The Wreath is blessed only on the first Sunday of Advent and then is lit as part of the processional at each Mass for the succeeding Sundays. Third, Advent Wreaths made from dried grape vines and/or a Jesse tree (normally a dead Christmas tree) symbolize the meaning of the season by highlighting our imperfect human lives—attacked by sin and division—we are not truly alive—will be replaced in the Christmas season with wreaths made of greenery, which symbolizes eternal and unending life, and are perfectly round (a circle) which highlights unbroken life in the Kingdom of God. Flowers are not permitted in the Church during the celebration of the Mass and relics of the saints should not be displayed; and if possible, pictures and Icons should be covered. Prior to the 13th century, Pope Innocent III declared black was the color of the Advent season though violet has been in use since that time.

These prohibitions are relaxed on Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent. The Introit for Gaudete Sunday, in both the Traditional Mass and the Novus Ordo is taken from Philippians 4:4, 5: "Gaudete in Domino semper" ("Rejoice in the Lord always"). Like Lent, Advent is a penitential season, so the priest normally wears violet vestments. But on Gaudete Sunday, having passed the midpoint of Advent, the Church lightens the mood a little, and the priest may wear rose vestments. The change in color

provides us with encouragement to continue our spiritual preparation—especially prayer and fasting for Christmas. For this same reason, the third candle of the Advent wreath, first lit on Gaudete Sunday, is traditionally rose-colored.

This all makes sense following last Sunday’s celebration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe which calls us to remember that Christ was no ordinary king possessing only temporal power to tax or to rule civil society, but that Jesus Christ’s reign as King of the Universe extends into death—and thus life eternal. Let us not forget what the Lord said to the thief who recognized Him as the true King: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” And the Christ answered: “Today, you will be with Me in Paradise!” Our Advent celebration is not all “smoke and mirrors” and it is not all ritual; rather it is intended to remind us of who we are and who He is— King of the Universe and savior of my soul.