In short, the Catholic Church, Advent begins today, running 23 days, then, thereafter, there are 20 days of CHRISTMAS! The Catholic Church asks each person to spend 6 minutes a day, in quiet, in the presence of THE LORD, reading from a handbook, called The Little Blue Book, in which, are Sacred Scriptures, and, thought filled messages...
Protestant Churches vary in their practices of Advent, but, the centralized theme is the same: to make CHRIST the CENTER of the Season, to offer thanks to HIM, and, the expectation, or, anticipation of HIS arrival, or, coming! Advent wreaths, calendars, Church colours, prayers, songs, readings, and, other such, fill the days of Advent, throughout the world!!!
The Advent wreath is a circular garland of evergreen branches, representing eternity! 5 candles are, (3 purple, 1 pink, and, 1 white one in the center), generally, placed in the wreath, in which case, one candle is lit for each Sunday of the Advent season, representing an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of THE LORD, CHRIST JESUS, and, each candle represents the coming of THE LIGHT of CHRIST into the world! The first Sunday of Advent a purple candle is lit, this is called the Prophecy Candle, in honour of the prophets, though, especially Isaiah, whom, foretold the birth of CHRIST, our LORD. The second Sunday, another purple candle is lit, this is called different things by different denominations, such as the Bethlehem candle, but, is typically, representative of LOVE. On the third Sunday, the pink candle is lit, which represents Joy, often called the Shepherd's Candle. The fourth Sunday sees the lighting of the last purple candle, which is called the Angel's candle, representing PEACE. On the fifth Sunday, Christmas Eve, the white candle is lit, which is called the CHRIST candle; white representing the life of CHRIST that has come into this world, and, the fact that HE is sinless, spotless, and, pure SAVIOUR... It should be noted that those who celebrate the Advent wreath, began the first Sunday after Thanksgiving, and that, it is acceptable to use different colours for the candles, though, purple, pink, and, white are aligned to customs of Worship...
Each of us has our own traditions, and, ways of celebrating CHRIST; myself, I LOVE to mix it all up into one, because, I LOVE a bit from EACH tradition!!!
Anyway, the HOLY season has begun! It is a season of reflection, retrospect, excitement, anticipation, LOVE, communing with *GOD*, and celebration of the GREATEST GIFT OF LOVE EVER KNOWN!!!
It is also, a most BUSY season, for many reasons, one of which, is commercialism, and, the traditions the commercialism has embedded, SO, let us make EVERY effort to KEEP CHRIST as the CENTER of the days leading TO CHRISTMAS EVE, and, DAY, for HE IS MORE THAN WORTHY, and, IS the reason for the season!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2012
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