Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.

The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. The final days of Advent, from Dec. 17 to Dec. 24, focus particularly on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas).

Advent devotions including the Advent wreath, remind us of the meaning of the season. The USCCB's Advent Calendar can help you fully enter in to the season with daily activity and prayer suggestions to prepare you spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ. 

– Source: USCCB.org
 

The "both/and" nature of our spiritual preperation

I confess, I’m guilty.  Once Thanksgiving is over my thoughts turn to Christmas.  I put up my tree and decorate the house for that “most wonderful time of the year.”  I pull out my Christmas CDs and watch all those great Christmas specials and movies on TV.  All these preparations —-admittedly secular —- put me in a happy frame of mind and give me a good feeling to welcome my favorite holiday.  I don’t want to miss a minute! 
 
At the same time, I don’t lose sight of the real “reason for the season,” the birth of the Savior, God the Father’s gift of his Son Jesus to the world.  The four weeks of Advent that precede Christmas Eve and Day keep me focused liturgically, in prayer and worship, on the ancient anticipation of the coming of the Messiah. 
 
In reality, Advent and its conclusion in Christmas, is a “both/and” time.  The Lord Jesus has already come and we can’t pretend or act otherwise.  And, yet, special celebrations become all the more rich and meaningful when we prepare for and look forward to them.  Think of birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations. The “waiting” is a great part of the fun!  Think of Baptisms, First Holy Communions and Confirmations.  The preparations make the event a time of special excitement and joy. Hence, the Season of Advent.  [Continue reading ... ]