From a pastoral letter by Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop
 The season of Advent

Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see. This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with special solemnity. We too should always observe it with faith and love, offering praise and thanksgiving to the Father for the mercy and love he has shown us in this mystery. In his infinite love for us, though we were sinners, he sent his only Son to free us from the tyranny of Satan, to summon us to heaven, to welcome us into its innermost recesses, to show us truth itself, to train us in right conduct, to plant within us the seeds of virtue, to enrich us with the treasures of his grace, and to make us children of God and heirs of eternal life.

Each year, as the Church recalls this mystery, she urges us to renew the memory of the great love God has shown us. This holy season teaches us that Christ’s coming was not only for the benefit of his contemporaries; his power has still to be communicated to us all. We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments, we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for us, and live by that grace and in obedience to Christ.

The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts, bringing with him the riches of his grace.

In her concern for our salvation, our loving mother the Church uses this holy season to teach us through hymns, canticles and other forms of expression, of voice or ritual, used by the Holy Spirit. She shows us how grateful we should be for so great a blessing, and how to gain its benefit: our hearts should be as much prepared for the coming of Christ as if he were still to come into this world. The same lesson is given us for our imitation by the words and example of the holy men of the Old Testament.

RESPONSORY See Joel 2:15; Isaiah 62:11; Jeremiah 4:5

Sound the trumpets in Zion, summon the nations; call the people together and tell them the good news:
 — Our God and our Savior is coming.

Proclaim the good news, let it be heard; tell it to everyone, shout it aloud.
 — Our God and our Savior is coming.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Keep us alert,
 we pray, O Lord our God,
 as we await the advent of Christ your Son,
 so that, when he comes and knocks,
 he may find us watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise.
 Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
 God, for ever and ever.
 — Amen.

Advent is a season of hope and of joyful anticipation.  It always contains four Sundays. Some Advent traditions include the Advent Wreath and the Advent Calendar.   There is also a Jesse Tree, which is a very old Christmas tradition used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation to the Christmas Story. 


Do you know how the start of Advent is determined?  
Advent begins on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, (November 30) and continues until December 24.  

For 2021 this means Advent begins on Sunday, November 28th!


EWTN ADVENT 
EWTN is a wonderful Catholic resource for all things Advent.  Click on this link to learn more about this Liturgical Season:  EWTN Advent