Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time ● STUDY GUIDE
ADVENT
The word Advent means ‘Coming’
We wait actively during Advent for
• Birth of Jesus
• Rebirth of Christ in our Hearts
• Christ’s return in the Second Coming
Ways in which we actively wait:
• Help Others
• Repent for Sin
• Prayer
The advent wreath is an evergreen wreath with four candle – It is a circle that reminds us that God’s love for us is eternal has no end.
The Advent wreath has four candles, one for each week of Advent.
• Purple candles are used to symbolize prayer, penance, and sacrifice
• The pink candle symbolizes joy. It is lit on the 3rd week of Advent.
The lighting of the Advent candles reminds us of the promise that Jesus, the light of the world, will come.
Purple is used to represent the season of Advent.
CHRISTMAS
Christmas is a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Christmas season begins on December 25 and lasts until the Feast of the Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6.
The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the following: in the following order of importance:
• The Baptism of the Lord
• The Nativity of Christ
• The visitation of the Wise Men or Three Kings
White is used represent the season of Christmas.
ORDINARY TIME
Ordinary time is the longest liturgical season in the Catholic Church.
Ordinary Time may also be called Ordinal Time, which means numbered or ordered time.
Ordinary time is technically one liturgical season, though it is divided into two periods.
During Ordinary Time, we learn about Jesus’ life and teaching through parables and His miracles. Ordinary Time is intended to remind us that Jesus is with us throughout all of our daily trials and triumphs.
During the season of Ordinary Time, we learn about the saints.
Saints are followers of Jesus Christ who lived lives of holiness on earth and who now share in eternal life with God in Heaven.
• The lives of the saints teach us about true discipleship and are models of holiness for us and for the students we teach.
• The saints’ love and prayers for the Church are constant.
Green is used to represent ordinary time.