2nd Sunday in Advent

I took such a visceral pleasure in spotting a "prothonotary warbler" at Mass yesterday, that I forgot to post the following:

"Purple II class -- Second Sunday of Advent --
Station at the Church of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem

The Apostles enjoyed the wonderful privilege of praying with Christ. We enjoy the same privilege in the official worship of the Church. we pray with Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body.

After Bethlehem and the manger comes Golgoths with the cross already shining far off over the peaceful country of Ephrata, where already shining far off over the peaceful country of Ephrata, where the Incarnate Word first appeared upon earth. The station is therefore at the Sessorian Basilica - the Roman counterpart of the Martyrdom at Jerusalem. Here was kept the Holy Cross which the Empress Helena had presented to the Church in Rome. Many allusions are made today to Jerusalem in the Liturgy.

The Prayer is inspired by the famous cry of the Baptist, "prepare ye the way of the Lord," so we pray to God to pour His grace into our hearts. This preparation consists in the spirit of contrition purifying the soul and in the sincere purpose of obedience to the divine precepts.

In the Epistle [Romans 15, 4-13] St. Paul in a few touches sketches the mission of the Redeemer to esptablish all mankind in one single family, the church. The Gospel testifies to the divinity of Christ by deeds rather than by words.

The Eucharistic grace for which we beg in the Postcommunion is that the holy bread, the memorial of the death of Our Lord, may destroy in us the germs of evil and may nourish us unto everlasting life. - SM"

Advent Preface - EF

Sometimes people dig their heels in really hard when there are changes in the litury. HOWEVER, change can be good. For example, in '62 there was a change in the EF which allowed for the use of a Gallician Preface for the season of Advent. Prior to that, the preface wasn't in use in the Tridentine Mass.

The Galliican Rite was the common liturgy in Gaul [i.e. France] -- these Gallican prefaces were supercede in the eight century by the Roman Rite. In 1962 there were several Gallician Prefaces approved for use are: Preface for the Dedication of a Church, Preface of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Preface of St. John the Baptist, Preface of All Saints and Holy Patrons, and the Preface of Advent.

There is an excellent article in the Catholic Encyclopedia about the origins of Advent here. There is NO liturgical support for the claim that the 4 weeks of Advent represent 1 week for each "supposed" millenium from what was then sometimes construed as the "dawn of time" before the birth of Christ. [And no, smart sailors DIDN'T think the wolrd was flat in 1492.[

Prior to '62 the Preface said had been the common Sunday Preface for the Holy Trinity.

The Advent Preface is:

""It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to Thee, Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God: for through the Mystery of the Word made flesh, new radiance from tThy glory hath so shone on the eye of the soul that the recognition of our God made visible draweth us to love what is invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army we sing a hymn to Thy glory, evermore saying: [Holy, holy, etc.] "

The priest can still chose to do the Preface of the Holy Trinity - (the one that's normally done on a Sunday.)

1st Sunday of Advent

"The Spirit of the Sacred Liturgy during Advent, full of the joyful announcement of approaching freedom, is one f holy enthusiasm, tender gratitude and an intense longing for the coming of the Word of God in the hearts of all the children of Adam.

The Introit gives eloquent expression to the feelings of humanity, cast down, yet full of hope, and begs the Saviour to bring it back into the path which leads to Bethlehem, along the way of truth and justice The epistle calls upon us to rouse from sleep. The Church in the Gospel the second coming of Ohr Lord at the end of the world with His first appearance at Bethlehem as Our Reedemer.

Man is made up of spirit and flesh, and whilst the former is desirous of being drawn to truth and love, the latter understand only such good or evil as can be percieved by the senses, and must be held in check by penance and by a fear of the judgements of God. -- SM"

---

The Missal notes that the "Station" for the Mass would be at St. Mary Major.

In the glory days of the Church, certainly from th time of Poope Gregory the Great, and possibly before - the people used to gather at difference churches depending what the feast, occasion was. It's well worth checking out this article about Stational Masses here.