Every year on the last Sunday before Advent, we celebrate the feast day of CHRIST the KING. Jesus is a good KING who loves His people so much that He died so we could go to Heaven.
What can you do to show Jesus that He is the KING of your life? What can you do to show your friends that Jesus is YOUR KING? What is something special you can do today to celebrate the FEAST OF CHRIST the KING?
Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "coming." Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His arrival. While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of preparation, much like Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting are appropriate during this season.
Advent is not as strict as Lent, and there are no rules for fasting, but it is meant to be a period of self-preparation. The purple color associated with Advent is also the color of penance. The faithful should fast during the first two weeks in particular and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The color of the Third Sunday of Advent is rose. This color symbolizes joy and represents the happiness we will experience when Jesus comes again. The Third Sunday is a day of anticipatory celebration. It is formerly called "Gaudete" Sunday; gaudete means "rejoice" in Latin.
Finally, Sundays during Advent, just as during Lent, should not be given to fasting, but instead to celebration because we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord every Sunday. It is important to remember, however, there are no particular rules for how the laity should observe Advent.
Congratulations to this years recipients of the Immaculata Award Mike Bambino from Our Lady of the Rosary, and Tony Paolozzi from Our Lady of Lourdes.
Both will be presented with their awards on December 9th at 2:30 pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception by Bishop Cunningham.
