Advent with the Dominican Friars: Part One (The Meaning of Advent)

As blogged last week, the Dominican Friars in Washington DC are producing a series of articles and videos entitled "The Mystery of Advent" to help us prepare for Christmas.

Today the first reflection was posted on Catholic Exchange (with video to follow shortly) by Br. John Chrysostom Kozlowski, O.P. Do take a moment and read:

"Once again Advent is upon us. Our churches will be draped in purple; our priests will wear violet vestments; the Advent wreath will be blessed and lit; "O come, O come Emmanuel" will be sung as we begin the time of preparation for our Lord's coming.

Once again Advent is upon us. Our lives will be swept up in a whirlwind of chaos; we will have to find that perfect present; we will attend any number of pre-Christmas Christmas parties. Our ears will be bombarded with Christmas songs everywhere we go as we begin a three week celebration of Our Lord and Savior's birth.

Which of these images come closer to our experience of Advent? For most of us, the second scenario is probably closer to reality. For most of us, Advent is lived as a time of early celebration of Christmas rather than as spiritual preparation for Christmas. We do not need to celebrate Christmas early because the Church gives us the Octave of Christmas, the Church's eight day celebration of Christmas.

However, all too often, Advent becomes a time for pre-Christmas Christmas celebrations and no one has the energy for eight days of celebration when Christmas comes. When that happens, the distinctive purpose of the Advent season becomes lost and forgotten. Of course, some of us will have office parties and family events that take place before Christmas and it would be in poor taste not to participate. Yet, with some effort, we can reclaim the true meaning of Advent.

[Read the full meditation.]

A truly excellent practical help:

"We promised to offer not only theological but practical points for this period of intense training. Now, there are a number of fine Advent traditions that can help individuals and families prepare. There is the family Advent wreath, the displaying of a nativity scene without the Christ-child until Christmas, and various sorts of meditations that go with these. Advent is a great time for individuals and families to start praying the Rosary — especially the Joyful Mysteries. But when we keep in mind how busy everyone is during this season, there is one Advent practice in particular that we commend to everyone. It is quick and easily carried out by even the busiest shoppers.

The method is to print out a copy of the two prefaces of Advent (they are available here as a .pdf file), and take just one minute a day to read and ponder the appropriate preface — personally praying the first preface during the first part of Advent and the second preface during the second part of Advent. Those who want to make a greater effort to reclaim the meaning of Advent might consider taking a minute to read and meditate upon the appropriate preface before each and every trip to a mall, a store, or a pre-Christmas Christmas party. In this way, the true meaning of Advent will remain with us even during this chaotic time of the year."

To learn more about the Dominican Friars, visit their vocations blog here.