NEWSLETTER
November 27, 2011: First Sunday of Advent

GOSPEL READING: MARK 13:33-37                                         CHURCH CALENDAR:

Jesus said to his disciples:                                                         November 30 – St. Andrew the Apostle          

"Be watchful! Be alert!                                                                December 3 - St. Francis Xavier

You do not know when the time will come.

It is like a man traveling abroad.                                                    ANNOUNCEMENTS:

He leaves home and places his servants in charge,                    Dec 2 - First Friday

each with his own work,                                                              After 6:15 am Mass - Holy Hour             

and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.                            Additional Mass at 12:15 pm

Watch, therefore;                                                                           After 6:30 pm Mass – ROLP Prayer Night

you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,        

whether in the evening, or at midnight,                                          Dec 3 – First Saturday  

or at cockcrow, or in the morning.                                                 5:30 am – Dawn Procession BVM         

May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.                       After 6:15 am Mass – Act of        

What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"                                        Consecration/Reparation BVM

ADVENT

The word Advent is from the Latin adventus for "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. The official color of Advent is violet which symbolizes the penitential spirit.

Advent has a two-fold character: first, as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming to us is remembered; second, as a season when that remembrance directs our mind and heart to await Christ’s second coming at the end of time. Advent, thus, is a period of devout and joyful expectation.

Advent is a time to recall the cry of the early Christians: Maranatha! “Come, Lord Jesus!” A penitential celebration is one way of assisting the people of God in preparing for the Solemnity of the Nativity.

ADVENT WREATH

Customarily the Advent Wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles. According to tradition, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. The rose candle is lit the third Sunday of Advent, for this color anticipates and symbolizes the Christmas joy announced in the first word of the Entrance Antiphon: "Rejoice" (Latin, Gaudete). For this reason the Third Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and rose color vestments are permitted.

The Advent Wreath represents the long time when people lived in spiritual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Light of the world. Each year in Advent people wait once again in darkness for the coming of the Lord, His historical coming in the mystery of Bethlehem, His final coming at the end of time, and His special coming in every moment of grace.

During Advent, family and friends can gather around the Advent Wreath lighting the appropriate candle(s), read from the daily Advent meditation and sing songs.

A personal calendar can be made for the four weeks before Christmas. On the calendar, a person can mark the Advent Calendar with personal goals of preparation or acts of service to be done for others.

FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT

Week 1: First Sunday of Advent

Opening Prayer:

All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to His side to the kingdom of heaven, where he lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Lord God, your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior, who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin.

Pour forth your blessings upon us as we light the first (purple) candle of this wreath; may its light reflect the splendor of Christ, who is Lord, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray one Our Father for peace in the family, country and the whole world.

VIRTUES TO LIVE BY FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT:

HUMILITY

Scripture

Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them. *Matthew 6:1

Pray

Loving Savior, everything you did was for God’s Kingdom and for others. Help me to imitate you and learn again humility and trust that I too might live for God and others. Give me the gift of a humble heart.

Act

Today I will try to do good things for others without expecting to be rewarded or applauded.

FORGIVENESS

Scripture

Forgive us our trespasses so we forgive those who trespass against us. *Matthew 6:9-13

Pray

Loving Savior, forgiveness seems like such a simple virtue, but when I examine my heart I find that I don’t really forgive. I still carry the pain and resentment of the wrong others have done me. Give me please a truly forgiving heart.

Act

Today I will focus on one person to whom I should offer forgiveness and I will resolve to let my act of forgiveness to be forever.

PRAYER

Scripture

Pray without ceasing and give thanks to God in all circumstances. *1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Pray

Loving Savior, I want to “pray always” by being open to your Holy Spirit within me. Help me to be still, to be ready to do all that you ask of me. I praise you, I thank you, I love you. Give me the gift of a prayerful heart.

Act

Throughout my day today, I will try to make prayer a priority, even if I only have time for simple words like “Be with me, God, and watch over me.”

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