Advent

The Ecclesiastical Year begins on the first Sunday of Advent and ends on the Saturday following the last Sunday after Pentecost. Advent is composed of four weeks during which, with the patriarchs and prophets, we prepare to celebrate the first coming of our Lord in a Bethlehem stable. During Advent the approved liturgical colors are blue, rose or violet, unless otherwise indicated by the feast of the day. If violet vestments are used rose is recommended color for the Third Sunday in Advent. This is in keeping with the theme of joy. The “Gloria” is omitted from the Mass liturgy.

It is a Polish custom from antiquity that a special votive Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated in the parish Church once a week (usually on a Wednesday). It is called “Rorate” Mass, from the first words of the Latin Introit “rorate caeli”. This unique Polish custom, first celebrated at the Wawel Cathedral in Krakow in 1545 dictates that seven candles are lighted and placed on the St. Mary’s Altar. The seventh candle is much taller than the rest and is decorated with a green branch tied with a white ribbon. This symbolizes the Old Testament prophecy fulfilled; the Messiah stemming from the “Root of Jesse”.

It is also customary, in some parishes, to prepare an Advent Wreath consisting of four candles in a circular wreath with a larger candle (the Christ candle) in the center. The Advent Wreath serves as a reminder of the four thousand years of expectation for the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ, born on Christmas Day.

The Church has her own special liturgical year and calendar in which she presents again the history and unchanging mysteries of our salvation, from Creation to the Second Coming, together with the entire life of the Savior. Advent is an especially lovely season and we can make great use of it. With the beginning of the season of Advent, we begin a new liturgical year. The First Sunday of Advent is therefore the Church’s “New Year’s Day”.
Advent comes from the Latin word for an “arrival” or a “coming”. Advent means that the Lord is coming. Jesus Christ, our brother in our humanity and our God in His divinity is about to arrive. First, Jesus came to us at a specific point in history at Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. But in the Church’s great feast of Christmas He mystically comes again. Second, the Lord, Alpha and Omega, will come to judge the living and the dead in the Second Coming. We must be ready to receive and welcome Him when He comes, however He comes.

ADVENT IN POLAND

In Poland, Advent is an important season in which special church services known as “Roraty” are held every morning at 6 AM. The four Sundays of the holy month of Advent symbolize 4,000 years of waiting for Christ.

On St. Andrew’s Eve (November 30), Poles hold fortune-telling. At midnight, people pour hot wax into a pot of cool water, and as the wax starts to cool, shadows are cast on the wall. The shadows are said to tell the people to expect in the New Year. Their dreams that night are supposed to predict the future as well.

Traditionally on December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, St. Nicholas usually dressed as a bishop, comes in his sleigh with gifts for the children. Today St. Nicholas comes dressed more like the American Santa Claus, and not always in a sleigh. Polish Children will also get Advent calendars. Each day the boys, and girls would open a door of the calendar. Behind the doors are pieces of candy, or a picture.