The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-11-26
just Among Ourselves
Passing Comment Considered or Ineonsidsrats

The season Of Advent brings in new Church
year Advent is the coming the drrlUot of the Re
deemer Of mankind, Of God-made-Man to give us
back the chance of getting to heaven. 1t is now
nearly twenty centuries since 'the Word was made
flesh" but it is right and reasonable to observe each
year a period commemorating the expectation of
the Incarnation
The spirit Of the faithful children Of God in Old
Testament times was one of longing mingled with
penance There was deep desire for the fulfilment
Of Isaas prophecy God himself will come and will
save ou" And there was humble acknowledge
ment of human unworthness to have this wondrous
Savior actually given TO mankind.
In our commemoraton of the years OF penitent-
al hope and expectation we celebrate under di-
rection of Holy Mother Church. the.season of Ad-
vent II is therefore, penitentia time, this time
of Advent. But his is Joyous sort of penance un-
like that of Lent, for it emissions terrible suffer
ings of the Savior but oey His miraculous birth
of an immaculate Virgin Mother
In Lent we think not only Of our own unworth
ness for which stir ourselves 10 sorrow and will
ngly undergo inconvenience and self-denia but
our minds arc fixed on the Passion and Death of
Christ True, we look for the glory Of Easter, but
our thoughts of that glory in the background;
they are 10 have a sudden outburst when the days
that commemorate Our Lords suffering are over
Suffering is the dominant Lenten thought
But the dominant thought Of Advent is not suf.
fering, but JOY We do penance indeed but we have
not TO carry ii through any season of overwhelming
sorrow before 1t comes to fruton. Therefore say
that the penance of Advent is joyous penance while
the penance Of Lent is sorrowng penance.
Yet the penance Of Advent is real penanee
We are not in full accord with the spirit Of Holy
Church when VIC use Advent only to stir up the
feeling or emotion of Joy, not making strong effort
10 cleanse ourselves more and more from sin and
the effects of sin in ourselves.
Advent is time for PRAYER II need not be
time of newly heightened or multiplied prayers
Bul it should certainly be season of improved
quality in our prayers TO think Of what Christmas
recalls, is for devouf child of the Church. 10
think Of making oneself more worthy Of Christ
Advent suggests new and attention in morning
and night prayer; it suggests fervent recital
of our daily Rosary; il suggests alert devotion at
Holy Mass And it means willing and generous
observance Of the laws of fasting and abstinence
the Ember Days and the Vigh-4as weilsasa a readi-
ness to forego the eager 1uest of worldly entertain
ment that so generally and so persstently marks
The lives of nearly all our people
And, more than all, Advent suggests renewal
Of love and devotion to the Redeemer ever present
any Catholic can feel longing for Our Lords
coming, and yet stay away flom the Communion
rail day after day and week after week. No one
can prepare us for the Feast Of Christ's Coming
50 we'll as Christ Himself The proper observance
oi Advent means 4 worthy and Ierpent Communion,
at the very least on each Sunday and Hoyday Of
the season
II is interesting to notice that the word Holidays
is only shortened form Of the two words holy days.
hnltd lie
ing the time holy by special effort and special
eagerness TO concur with the ever available grace
Of God
The merriment SO generally mentioned in con
necon with The Christmas time is a merriment
the delightful freedom Of the state OF grace, and
IS ready TO enter in every Seemly wav Ito the
celebration Of Our Lords Birthday. II person
IN whom sanctiiyng grace exists can have true
Joy in all that Is properly associated with Christ,
mas IT. the giltglVng, the carols, the feastng, the
spirit Of general benevolence But to the soul in
the state Of mortal sin, all the outward celebration
is little better than hollow moekery
The right way 10 celebrate Christmas therefore,
Is to be in the state of grace And there should be
special effort TO Increase grace in the soul. Thus
the meaning and duty of Advent is instantly ap-
parent
Gods grace gives or restores innocence TO the
soul, And only the innocent really enter whole
heartedy into meanngful merriment There are
persons who feel that the expression Merry Christ
mas" ought to give place to more spiritual eX-
preston such as "A Blessed Christmas or a
Happy Christmas But if the merriment we
speak of when We make the traditional Christmas
wish Is the merriment Of innocence and grace,
there is nothing unworthy in tine greeting of Merry
Christmas"
The Church is a wstchful mother She misses
no opportunity 70 do good To her children. She
Is anxious nov that all take adyantaeeso Of this
holy time Of Advent and use II we'll 10 that in
addition to the rich gfaee nf this penientia time
itself all may be prepared 10 receive the full
measure oil blessing and JOY that comes with the
Feast to those who receive it.
And therefore the Church selects for reading
on the very first day of Advent passages from
Holy Scripture that urge all to the proper observ
ance Of the time 1T is the hour for us to rise
from Sleep" let cast off the works Of darkness
and put on he armor Of light" "show, O Lord
thy ways to me- and teach me thy paths"
Al Advent earnestly.obseryed is the hed assur
anee oI truly happy Christmas. s.eats.a