Advent: Season of Hope
What is Advent?
Advent (from the Latin: “to come to” or “arrival”) marks the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year. Comprising the four Sundays before Christmas, it is a season of hope and preparation, where we open our hearts to God’s presence. We prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the historic coming of Christ in the Incarnation (Christmas), and our hope in Christ’s second coming at the end of time. It is a season of longing and waiting – we allow ourselves to be expectant in this time, alert and ready for God’s presence. We meet in the scriptures of Advent our spiritual ancestors who practiced such waiting: the prophet Isaiah, John the Baptist, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and more. They teach us how to wait with joyful hope, while Christ in our Gospels teaches us to be awake and ready for the Second Coming.
The Advent Wreath is a symbol which helps us mark the weeks of Advent, and focus our prayer. The light of the candles reminds us of Christ, the Light of the World. You can prepare an advent wreath at home to pray with.
Additional resources for advent:
As we enter a new Liturgical Year, we move to read the Gospel according to Mark in our lectionary this upcoming year. A special Advent practice could be reading Mark’s Gospel (the shortest Gospel), as a way to grow closer to Christ this Advent.
Advent Prayer Books
Looking for a way to deepen your prayer and reflection this Advent? We have prayer booklets available for purchase this year, priced at $5 each, with proceeds benefiting Pax Christi USA. The booklet, titled Radicalizing Tenderness: Reflections for Advent and Christmas 2023, features reflections for Sundays and Holy Days from Advent through Epiphany written by Sr. Norma Pimentel, a member of the Missionaries of Jesus and executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, who is deeply admired for her advocacy for migrants and those on the margins. Sr. Norma’s reflections for Advent and Christmas invite readers to recall our human connections, the love we have been shown by a tender Creator, and how our faith shapes our daily steps.
Journey Through Advent
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops presents Journey through Advent with the Most Rev. Bishop Jon Hansen, CSsR, Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. Join to reflect on the Scriptures for the Sundays of Advent 2023. Visit the CCCB Advent page for more information.
Upcoming Events At and Around St. Basil’s
God With Us: Interconnected in the Incarnation
Join the Mary Ward Centre and St. Basil’s Parish for an Advent evening of reflection on Monday, December 18, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Meditating on the presence of Jesus, our God with Us, we will reflect on our connection with all of humanity and our call to be instruments of God’s love. Our time together will include prayer, reflection, and conversation in community. Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome. This event will take place at the Mary Ward Center (70 St. Mary Street). Registration required by December 15. https://forms.office.com/r/RxK7yv63YB