"O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear"
Advent, in the Catholic Liturgical year, is comprised of the four Sundays and weeks leading up to Christmas day. It is a time of quiet expectation and hopeful longing for the coming of Christ into history, as a baby, and His return at the end of time. This time of preparation, which is one of fasting and deeper prayer, is a very necessary and beneficial practice to better prepare the soul- and the body- for the feast of Christmas.
It also mirrors the way that God works. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that 'The coming of God's Son to earth is an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries." The rituals and sacrifices of the old covenant all pointed towards Christ; the prophets foretold of His coming; and in the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation and desire was stirred up.
The immensity of Christmas is magnified by the waiting. The profundity of the Incarnation is better perceived, by the prolonged expectation. And the Joy of Christ's birth is heightened by the longing and cultivated desire.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, is one of the best known and most beloved Advent hymns. It gives words to the deep longing deep in the heart of all creation for the coming of Christ.
It is common in these days for Christmas decorations to go up in November, the lights to pierce the gloomy darkness of November and even for Christmas carols and hymns to be sung in early December. But how discordant are these things with a Creation that is silently longing for Christ the Babe and Christ the King. How untimely and out of season to hear 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' when Mary and Joseph are still journeying, on a quiet, hidden and humble path, to the stable at Bethlehem.
Let all the Earth be silent before Him.
There are indeed ten thousand reasons to be Catholic, as GK Chesterton said, and one of them is Advent
Vivat Chistus Rex!
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