Send questions to: DRE@saintcolumbachurch.org and place “Q’s Pews” in the subject line. All questions are answered and kept confidential. If your question is used in the column, it will remain anonymous. James Gregory, DRE

“Fide quaerens Intellectum”

“Always be prepared to make a defense … for the hope that is in you … with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15)

“Q’s from the Pews”

Advent vs. advent

Advent, from the Latin “to await or long for an arrival,” is central to salvation history.  The liturgical season Advent, leading up to Christmas, is often considered to be a time awaiting the coming of the Christ Child.  But as we experience in our readings each Advent, we are also anticipating the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time (parousia).  This eschatological dimension of the Advent season connects the liturgical year full-circle.   We await the Christ Child, and through his ultimate passion, death and resurrection, we can now await his Second Coming.  In this way, Lent can be seen as another kind of “advent.“

The first “advent” preceded the initial coming of the Messiah at the Incarnation and then birth of Jesus.  God became man, “Emmanuel,” the beginning and necessary act that will bring salvation to fallen mankind. Therefore, we celebrate this “advent”  at the very beginning of our liturgical year, during Advent season.

The next “advent” begins just a few short weeks after the Christmas season. The two “advents” are separated symbolically by a few weeks of liturgical “Ordinary Time,” marking the life of Jesus on Earth. This second “advent” or waiting is ushered in during Lent by the Paschal Mystery of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. The liturgical year’s timing reminds us that the Church links Christmas with Easter and the promised Second Coming of Christ.

We currently await (advent) the Second Coming promised by Jesus at the end of time.  This time of “advent-waiting” is followed by a longer period of “ordinary time” symbolizing the “unknowable time” before the Second Coming. 

Send questions to: DRE@saintcolumbachurch.org and place “Q’s Pews” in the subject. All questions are answered and kept confidential. If used in the column, your question will remain anonymous. 

Catholic Challenge for December

Spend some time contemplating Mt 1:18-25 and Micah 5:1-4
 

Totally Catholic Trivia

By 1969, the number of feasts and Holy days had grown to such an extent that Pope St Paul VI issued a Moto Propio, official order, Mysterium Paschalis. This reset the Liturgical year around Easter.
 

 

 

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