Advent

I thought this was very interesting because most of us Catholics don't know about this .... i found this on http://monkallover.blogspot.com/ . This blog was created by a monk. I often refer to his homilies each day (when posted).


TWO SEASONS IN ONE

Most Catholics, even priests, seem to be unaware that Advent really is a season to be observed in two stages, each stage having its own character.The Mass marks these two separate stages by giving us two separate Prefaces, one for the first stage of Advent and a different one for the second stage of Advent.The Second ComingThe first stage of Advent begins with the First Sunday of Advent and lasts through December 16. The Preface of the Mass for this first stage recalls that Christ “humbled himself to come among us as a man”, but it quickly invokes our hope for the day when “Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.” Here is the complete text of the Preface of the Mass for Advent I.
The Lord be with you.And also with you.Lift up your hearts.We lift them up to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give him thanks and praise.Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,we do well always and everywhere to give you thanksthrough Jesus Christ our Lord.When he humbled himself to come among us as a man,he fulfilled the plan you formed long agoand opened for us the way to salvation.Now we watch for the day,hoping that the salvation promised us will be ourswhen Christ our Lord will come again in his glory.And so, with all the choirs of angels in heavenwe proclaim your gloryand join in their unending hymn of praise:Holy, holy, holy….

The Approach of Christmas
The second stage of Advent begins on December 17 and lasts through the afternoon of December 24 (thus being an octave). It prepares us more specifically for the coming solemnity of Christmas. The Preface of the Mass for this second stage of Advent recalls the prophecies of Christ’s birth, his life in the womb of the Virgin Mother, and John the Baptist’s announcement of his coming. Then this preface speaks of the joy that Christ give us “as we prepare to celebrate.” Here is the complete text of the Preface of the Mass for Advent II.
The Lord be with you.And also with you.Lift up your hearts.We lift them up to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give him thanks and praise.Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,we do well always and everywhere to give you thanksthrough Jesus Christ our Lord.His future coming was proclaimed by all the prophets.The virgin mother bore him in her womb with love beyond all telling.John the Baptist was his heraldand made him known when at last he came.In his love Christ has filled us with joyas we prepare to celebrate his birth,so that when he comes he may find us watching in prayer,our hearts filled with wonder and praise.And so, with all the choirs of angels in heavenwe proclaim your gloryand join in their unending hymn of praise:Holy, holy, holy….