Notice that the Greek letters ΜΡ ΘΥ have been added to either side of the Virgin ’s head these are the abbreviations of the Greek words for “ Mother of God.” By truly absorbing the Nativity of the Son of God, we can be assured of the former and prepared for the latter.Īn icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe, painted by Christine Uveges of Eikona Studios of Cleveland, for St Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Whiting, Indiana, a church of the Eparchy of Parma, Ohio. And, yes, it is called Advent after the adventus or coming of Jesus Christ as an infant in Bethlehem, but the ritual remembrance of Our Lord’s first coming is meant to recall and even bring about two others: His coming into our hearts spiritually and His coming in judgment at history’s end. Advent’s propers, we are told, are a combination of historical happenstance and theological choice. Among the Franks, they say, Advent was practically as austere as Lent in form and fasting, while in Rome it was gleefully celebrated with white vestments and the Gloria the two eventually met in the middle.
Liturgical scholars have explanations for these phenomena. During Mass, the Gloria and organ are suppressed and the Holy Name of Jesus is omitted from the Collects but outside Mass, there are delicious treats and Yuletide drinks and caroling in the streets. It awaits the coming of the Messiah, who already came two thousand years ago. It is draped in the penitential color of violet yet is irrepressibly joyful. It marks a fresh start, and yet it opens by virtually repeating one of the readings from the Sunday before. It is the beginning of the liturgical year, and yet its first Gospel is about the end of the world.
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