|
First
Sunday of Advent
Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk
30th November 2014
Advent by Fr. Leonard Goffine
What is Advent, and
why has the Church instituted it?
Advent is that
solemn time, immediately preceding Christmas, instituted by
the Church in order that we should, in the first place,
meditate on the Incarnation of Christ, the love, patience
and humility which He has shown us, and prove our gratitude
to Him, because He came from the bosom of His heavenly
Father into this valley of tears, to redeem us; secondly,
that we may prepare ourselves by sincere repentance,
fasting, prayer, alms-deeds, and other works pleasing to
God, for the coming of Christ and His birth in our hearts,
and thus participate in the graces which He has obtained for
us; finally, that He may be merciful to us, when He shall
come again as judge of the world. "Watch ye, for ye know
not at what hour your Lord will come" (Mt. 5:42).
How was Advent
formerly observed?
Very differently
from now. It then commenced with the Feast of St. Martin,
and was observed by the faithful like the Forty Days' Fast,
with strict penance and devotional exercises, as even now
most of the religious communities do to the present day. The
Church has forbidden all turbulent amusements, weddings,
dancing and concerts, during Advent.
How should this
solemn time be spent by Christians?
They should recall,
during these four weeks, the four thousand years in which
the just under the Old Law expected and desired the promised
Redeemer, think of those days of darkness in which nearly
all nations were blinded by satan and drawn into the most
horrible crimes, then consider their own sins and evil deeds
and purify their souls from them by a worthy reception of
the Sacraments, so that our Lord may come with His grace to
dwell in their hearts and be merciful to them in life and in
death. Further, to awaken in the faithful the feelings of
repentance so necessary for the reception of the Saviour in
their hearts, the Church orders that besides the observance
of certain fast days, the altar shall be draped in violet,
that Mass shall be celebrated in violet vestments, that the
organ shall be silent and no Gloria sung. Unjust to
themselves, disobedient to the Church and ungrateful,
indeed, to God are those Christians who spend this solemn
time of grace in sinful amusements without performing any
good works, with no longing for Christ's Advent into their
hearts. |
