Ordinary
of the Mass
Mass Text - Latin
Mass Text -
English
Blessing of the Advent Wreath
Archbishop
Humphreys' Advent 2014 Pastoral Letter
“Now the hour for us to rise from sleep: for now our salvation is nearer
than when we believed…. Put on the armor of light.”
Today is the first Sunday of Advent,
the beginning of the Church’s new liturgical year. When I speak of the
“liturgical” year, I am referring to the fact that the Sundays and Holy days
of the Church’s year re‑present the major events in the life of our Lord and
Lady. And, indeed, the Church invites us to be conscious of these events,
in much the same way as She does in the mysteries of the Rosary.
Quite fittingly, the Immaculate
Conception is the first major feast of the new year—the holy Virgin was
chosen from the beginning of time to be the spotless mother of the Savior of
the human race. On December 18th we will celebrate the “Expectancy of the
Blessed Virgin,” which places the Annunciation in its proper order before
the birth of Christ at Christmas, a week later. The week after Christmas we
commemorate our Lord’s circumcision, and then on February 2nd, His
presentation in the Temple, so we learn that the Holy Family was obedient to
the Law of Moses, in force at that time. The Epiphany will commemorate our
Lord’s manifestation to the Angels and Wise men, His Baptism in the Jordan,
and His first miracle at Cana of Galilee. From Epiphany on, we learn about
our Lord’s public life, and ultimately about His Last Supper, Passion,
Death, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven.
So today, the Church invites us to
embark on a journey that points out the most important events in our own
spiritual life with Christ.
Now, you may wonder why we begin
this new year with a Gospel that describes the very end of time.
Why begin with the end? The answer to that goes back to the pagan Greek
philosopher, Aristotle. Aristotle knew, through the power of human
reasoning, that there is God. The fact that there is motion in the universe
requires that there be a prime mover. But with great insight, Aristotle
wrote that God moved the universe by being its final cause—sort of pulling
it to its ultimate end, rather than pushing it from its beginning. (Saint
Thomas suggests that God both pushes and pulls.)
Our Gospel, with its presentation of the last days, follows Aristotle’s
suggestion—our Christian life is in many ways formed by our expectation of
our final reward, the Beatific Vision of God in heaven. So as we proceed
through the coming year we should allow this final cause to set our
priorities. Nothing we do in life is worth anything if it causes us to lose
that final glory.
I should mention, too, that Advent
has a penitential character to it. You can tell that from the use of purple
vestments, and the absence of the Glória in excélsis at Holy Mass.
Centuries ago, Advent was observed much as Lent—back in the days when Lent
was properly observed. People fasted and abstained, they did penance and
they prayed. We used to have the expression “a fast before a feast” and
Advent and Lent were the great fasts before the great feasts, Christmas and
Easter.
The penitential character of Advent
is difficult for us to recognize because we life in a predominantly
Protestant culture, mixed with a secular, consumer oriented, culture. From
Thanksgiving day on, we are assaulted by Christmas music and urged to go out
and spend all of our money on things for Christmas. The public atmosphere
is very much like Christmas is already here, and will end on December 26th,
so we had better celebrate now while we have the opportunity (and a few
dollars) left.
It may not be completely possible to
preserve the Catholic observance of Advent, but I urge you to try, as best
as you can. If you are going to have a Christmas party, be sure to schedule
it on or after Christmas day. Plan your other activities accordingly.
Maybe, even plan your menus to reflect the custom of fasting and
abstinence. The Catholic Christmas extends not just to January 1st, but
beyond to Epiphany and Candlemas (February 2nd!) Every event in our Lord’s
life is important for us, so we must not stop our meditations with Christmas
day.
Recognize the importance of good
works in addition to fasting and abstinence. It would be scandalous for
Catholics to “eat, drink and be merry” if people around us go homeless,
hungry, and cold. Advent is the time to put aside a few things for the poor
and less fortunate. Food, clothing, and a few toys could mean quite a lot
to a family that cannot afford them. And no family should be bitter about
it being Christmas.
“Now the hour for us to rise from
sleep: for now our salvation is nearer than when we believed.” Saint Paul
is echoing the idea that throughout our lives we are moving toward our final
end. No one here can be certain that this is not their last opportunity to
live out the Church’s year with Christ. “Cast off the works of darkness,
and put on the armor of light.” Make sure that your Advent is spent in holy
things: with prayer and fasting, and prayer and abstinence, and prayer and
good works. Attend Holy Mass as often as you can. Join us for the Friday
evening holy hours. Pray the Rosary every day.
“Put on the
armor of light.”
