Advent

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THurifer2

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I am wondering why our church has violet as the official litrugical color of advent…I hope to hear from those that consider that it isn’t a season of penance.
 
Somebody else with the facts will be along shortly.

Reader’s Digest version: Advent used to be a time of big penance, just like Lent. It is still a time of mini-penance, with lots of hope thrown in. If I might direct your attention to the fact that we don’t say the Gloria during Advent? Same thing. Violet is the penance color. Beats blue. Saves money.
 
Advent is indeed a penitential season. However, it is unlike Lent which is a time of penance with a feeling of sorrow. Advent is more a season of preparation with a feeling of hope.

But the whole point of the penitential nature of either season is acknowledgement of our need for Christ. During Lent we focus on Christ’s sacrifice and the merits of His saving grace; and during Advent we focus on preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ in 3 ways: the celebration of His coming in the flesh; preparation for His second coming; and our continual conversion to allow Christ coming into our hearts.
 
I like to think that since Advent is the time before Christmas that it’s helpful to compare it to the time a couple prepares for the birth of their first child.

The first couple of weeks of Advent focus more on Christ’s second coming. A couple starts imagining life with a child. They may imagine the child’s whole life from infancy to adulthood. Before the child is even conceived the couple may make changes in their lives. They may need to get finances in order. They may need to re-arrange the house to accomodate another person. Both husband and wife may try to be in the best possible state of health for the baby. This may mean improving eating habits and avoiding excess alcohol.

The last couple of weeks of Advent focus more on the first coming of Christ. Once the baby is conceived the woman will need to continue the healthy habits she began before the child was conceived. This probably means eliminating or reducing some habits that she enjoyed before she was pregnant. Both parents may have to pare down some of their economic and time expenditures.

The couple is making personal sacrifices for the sake of something greater.

To me, Advent has that kind of penitential nature. It’s not so much sorrow for what has been as it is turning away from what has been in order to joyfully embrace what is coming.
 
Advent is indeed a penitential season. However, it is unlike Lent which is a time of penance with a feeling of sorrow. Advent is more a season of preparation with a feeling of hope.

But the whole point of the penitential nature of either season is acknowledgement of our need for Christ. During Lent we focus on Christ’s sacrifice and the merits of His saving grace; and during Advent we focus on preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ in 3 ways: the celebration of His coming in the flesh; preparation for His second coming; and our continual conversion to allow Christ coming into our hearts.
Not exactly “sorrow”, but penitence.

The preface prayer in the sacramentary says “…each year you give us this joyful season…”

Interesting.
 
I am wondering why our church has violet as the official litrugical color of advent…I hope to hear from those that consider that it isn’t a season of penance.
because it is the official color of Advent. Rose may be worn on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday.
 
because it is the official color of Advent. Rose may be worn on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday.
OK whats the symbolic ratinale. of the official color of Advent then.

Was a violet ping pong ball put into a bingo tumbler with other colors and just by chance the color that came out? or is there more to it?
 
This thread is closed. Thank you to all who responded.
 
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