What Is Advent? The Catholic Season of Waiting and Preparation

Every year, as the days grow shorter and the holiday season ramps up around them, American Catholics are called to something countercultural: to wait. Not passively, not impatiently, but with the active, expectant waiting of a people who know that something — Someone — is coming. That is the spirit of Advent, and it is one of the most distinctive gifts the Catholic liturgical tradition offers to a culture that has largely forgotten how to wait for anything.

The word "Advent" comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival." It is the season of the Church year dedicated to preparing for the coming of Christ — not just His historical birth in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, but also His coming into our hearts today and His final coming at the end of time. Advent holds all three of these "comings" in tension, and that is what gives it its unique spiritual depth.

When Does Advent Start? The Four Sundays Before Christmas

Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30 (the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle) and always includes four Sundays. This means Advent can begin as early as November 27 or as late as December 3. It ends on Christmas Eve, December 24, at the beginning of the Christmas Vigil Mass.

The four weeks of Advent are not equal in character. The first three weeks focus primarily on the eschatological coming of Christ — His return at the end of time — while the final days (December 17–24) shift to a more immediate preparation for the celebration of His birth. This shift is marked by the O Antiphons, which we will discuss below.

Advent also marks the beginning of the new liturgical year. The Church's calendar does not begin on January 1 — it begins on the First Sunday of Advent. This is a beautiful reminder that the Christian understanding of time is shaped not by the secular calendar but by the mystery of Christ's coming.

The Advent Wreath: Candles, Colors, and Meaning

The Advent wreath is one of the most beloved symbols of the season. It consists of a circular wreath of evergreen branches holding four candles — three purple (or violet) and one rose (or pink) — with a fifth white candle sometimes placed in the center to be lit on Christmas Day.

The circular shape of the wreath symbolizes eternity — God's eternal love with no beginning and no end. The evergreen branches represent life and hope in the midst of winter's darkness. Each Sunday of Advent, one additional candle is lit, so that by the fourth Sunday, all four candles are burning — a growing light in the darkness that anticipates the Light of the World.

Gaudete Sunday: The Rose Candle and the Joy of Advent

The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word gaudete, meaning "rejoice." The name comes from the entrance antiphon of the Mass: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). On this Sunday, the priest may wear rose vestments instead of purple, and the rose candle on the Advent wreath is lit.

Gaudete Sunday is a moment of joy within a season of waiting. It reminds us that Advent is not a gloomy or purely penitential season — it is a season of joyful anticipation. The waiting is not empty; it is full of hope. Christmas is near, and the Church cannot help but rejoice.

The O Antiphons: The Great Advent Prayers of December 17–23

From December 17 to December 23, the Church prays the O Antiphons — seven ancient antiphons that are among the most beautiful prayers in the entire liturgical tradition. Each antiphon addresses Christ by one of His messianic titles drawn from the Old Testament, and each ends with a plea for His coming.

The O Antiphons are sung at Vespers (Evening Prayer) in the Liturgy of the Hours, and they also form the basis of the beloved Advent hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." The seven titles are: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Dayspring), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel (O God with Us).

These antiphons intensify the longing of Advent in its final days. They are a reminder that the Church has been waiting for Christ not just for four weeks, but for thousands of years — since the first promise of a Redeemer in the Garden of Eden. When we pray the O Antiphons, we join our voices to the great chorus of all who have longed for God's salvation.

The Two Comings of Christ: Historical and Eschatological

One of the most important things to understand about Advent is that it looks in two directions at once. It looks backward, to the historical birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. And it looks forward, to His final coming at the end of time — what theologians call the Parousia.

The early weeks of Advent emphasize this eschatological dimension. The Gospel readings for the First and Second Sundays of Advent typically feature Jesus speaking about the end times, the coming of the Son of Man, and the need for watchfulness. "Stay awake," Jesus says in Matthew 24:42, "for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." This is the spirit of Advent: not passive waiting, but active, alert, prayerful readiness.

Some spiritual writers speak of a third coming of Christ — His coming into the soul through grace, prayer, and the sacraments. St. Bernard of Clairvaux wrote beautifully about this "middle coming" of Christ, which connects His historical birth and His final return. Advent invites us to prepare for all three comings: to remember Bethlehem, to welcome Christ into our hearts today, and to await His return in glory.

Advent vs. Christmas: The Difference Matters

One of the most countercultural aspects of the Catholic liturgical calendar is that Christmas does not begin until December 25 — and it lasts for twelve days, ending on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). Advent, by contrast, is a season of preparation, not celebration.

This means that the secular world's "Christmas season" — which typically begins in November and ends on December 26 — is almost the exact opposite of the Catholic liturgical calendar. Catholics are called to observe Advent as a season of waiting, prayer, and some degree of fasting or penance, and then to celebrate Christmas with joy for the full twelve days.

This does not mean Catholics cannot enjoy Christmas music, decorations, or family gatherings during Advent. But it does mean that the spiritual emphasis of the season should be on preparation, not premature celebration. The joy of Christmas is sweeter when it has been preceded by genuine waiting.

Advent Traditions for American Catholic Families

There are many beautiful ways to observe Advent as a family. Here are some of the most popular traditions among American Catholics:

The Advent Wreath at Home

Place an Advent wreath on the dinner table and light the appropriate candles each Sunday evening. Pray a brief blessing together and sing an Advent hymn such as "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." This simple ritual creates a powerful sense of the season's rhythm.

The Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree is an Advent tradition in which families hang ornaments representing figures from salvation history — from Adam and Eve to the prophets to Mary and Joseph — on a small tree or branch. Each day, a new ornament is added and the corresponding Scripture passage is read. By Christmas Eve, the tree tells the entire story of God's plan of salvation.

Advent Confession

Many parishes offer special Advent penance services or extended Confession hours. Going to Confession during Advent is a beautiful way to prepare your heart for Christmas — to clear away the spiritual clutter so that Christ can truly be born anew in your soul.

Acts of Charity

Advent is a wonderful time to practice the corporal works of mercy. Many families choose a charity to support during Advent, donate to a food bank, or participate in an Angel Tree program for children in need. These acts of charity prepare us to receive the Christ Child by serving Him in the poor.