Catholic Woman's League prepares for Advent

Intermountain Catholic

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Sister Michele Curtin (right) talks to the Catholic Woman's League about ways to prepare for Advent. During Advent, we purify ourselves and prepare for the coming of Jesus. IC photo by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "Advent means the coming of Christ, and today is the first Sunday of Advent," said Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word Sister Michele Curtin.

Sr. Michele gave a presentation on Advent for the Catholic Woman’s League Day of Anticipation Nov. 30, in the Saint Ann Parish Recreation Center. Sr. Michele said in history we have the coming of Christ when he was born in Bethlehem, the final coming of Christ, and the continuous coming of Christ into our hearts through the Holy Eucharist.

"We mark off the weeks for preparation of Christmas with an Advent wreath," said Sr. Michele. "The advent wreath has three purple candles and one rose-colored candle. The candles are placed on a circle of evergreen. The circle represents God as ever-lasting. The green stands for eternal. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent.

"You light the candles counterclockwise," said Sr. Michele. "When you light the candles, you say a prayer. The third Sunday is rose called Gaudete Sunday. It means rejoice or joy. We are preparing for the coming of Christ."

Sr. Michele said Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for Christmas. It is a time of preparation for Jesus coming again to us at Christmas, as he came the first time into our world as our redeemer.

"Whenever the coming of time is, when Christ will come again, we do not know," said Sr. Michele. "But if you are anything like me your days are limited, there is not that much time to prepare for the coming of Christ when he will take us to Himself in heaven. So we have to think of things like that during Advent. We prepare and we purify ourselves of all the snags that can congregate by attending a communal penitential celebration in our parishes. They help us get ready for a beautiful spiritual experience at Christmas. Christmas is a beautiful experience, but Advent is not Christmas so we rest to slow it down. We wait on the Christmas carols, decorations as much as possible, and we do not put baby Jesus in the crib in the manger until Christmas Eve."

Sr. Michele said there are several doctrines given to us in the liturgy of the readings of Advent. In the doctrines we know that Jesus came as our redeemer. He became incarnate by taking on human flesh, and he came as our savior.

"The English Catholics of long ago made up a song about Jesus because they were forbidden to have any religious display," said Sr. Michele. "They wrote the song called the "Twelve Days of Christmas." Each one of the days has special significance. For example the partridge in the pear tree was Jesus. The sixth day was the six days of creation, and the 10th day represented the Ten Commandments."

Sr. Michele said one of the things about Advent is there is more darkness than sunshine. The days are shorter and the nights are longer, the weather is dull, so as women, we have to be creative, rise above it and be joyful and hopeful. Advent is a season of hope.

Sr. Michele suggested we find quiet time because there are so many things we must do to prepare for Christmas such as cleaning, decorating, shopping, and cooking. Find at least five to 20 minutes a day to pray and meditate. Also pray as a family around the advent wreath after you light the candle.

You can also offer short prayers during the day while stopped at a red light, or while rushing around. Simply say Jesus, and you will feel much calmer.

It is important to make an examination of conscience, daily or once a week. Go to confession at least once a month. Make one day a week a day of fasting by having a light breakfast, a main meal, and a light dinner. Make your home a haven of charity. Be more loving to the difficult members of your family, and to difficult neighbors. Speak kindly and do not use derogatory language. Meditate around your nativity, and above all, keep Christ in Christmas.