Christmas
Christmas time was always very special in our house growing up. We began our preparations on December 23, with the decorations of our family Christmas tree. Dad was in charge of putting the tree up and arranging the lights. Then he would leave the kids, under mom’s supervision, to finish the decorations on the tree. Once the tree was up and fully decorated, it felt like Christmas was almost here. Growing up in a musical family, I remember gathering around the Christmas t
Advent
The word 'Advent' is from the Latin 'Adventus,' which means 'coming.' Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year (in the Western churches), and encompasses the span of time from the fourth Sunday before Christmas, until the Nativity of Our Lord is celebrated. Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas, just as Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. Over time, the emphasis has shifted from one of greater penitence and purification to one of joyful expectation, but
Advent is Here!
This Sunday we begin the holy season of Advent, a time of preparation for the Solemnity of Christ’s Nativity (Christmas). The season of Advent is marked with the themes of joyful expectations, of active waiting for the coming of the Lord. Waiting is not something that our present society is very fond of, but the theme of waiting is very present in the spiritual tradition of Jews and Christians. Waiting on the Lord is an essential part of our spiritual life, because God’s g