A Traditional Catholic Devotional - Day 1, Feast of St. Martin of Tours
What is Advent?
The name Advent [From the Latin word Adventus, which signifies a coming] is applied, in the Latin Church, to that period of the year, during which the Church requires the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the feast of Christmas, the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. The mystery of that great day had every right to the honour of being prepared for by prayer and works of penance; and, in fact, it is impossible to state, with any certainty, when this season of preparation (which had long been observed before receiving its present name of Advent) was first instituted. It would seem, however, that its observance first began in the west, since it is evident that Advent could not have been looked on as a preparation for the feast of Christmas, until that feast was definitively fixed to the twenty-fifth of December; which was done in the east only towards the close of the fourth century; whereas it is certain that the Church of Rome kept the feast on that day at a much earlier period. [source: THE LITURGICAL LIFE a Commentary on the Daily Liturgy of the Church by Dom Prosper Guéranger]
Thus, Advent is a time of preparation, a time of expectation, a time to remember how the world waited for the coming of the Great and Mighty Day of the Lord. Through the preaching of the prophets, the people of Israel, prayed and offered sacrifices for the coming of Messiah.
The penitential nature of observing Advent goes back to about the time of St. Gregory of Tours. It was like a lesser Lent. But, why penitential time may ask? Traditionally, the liturgical year is linked to the Passion of Christ - His highest work. The Passion - the work of redemptive, is complete in itself. Christ paid in full, for the sins of mankind. However, it is a command of Christ Himself, Who says, “I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.” [Luke 13:3] Therefore, in keeping with the Lord’s command, Holy Mother Church teaches us to do some form of penance before great feasts.
For instance on vigil days, like the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception (i.e., December 7) starting in 1957 this day became a day of mandatory fasting and abstinence. However, Vigils of the Immaculate Conception and of All Saints were omitted from the 1962 calendar.1
Fasting helps us prepare for special feast days. It was by eating the forbidden fruit that our parents first sinned. Thus, giving up food seems like the best way to do penance, it is also the “easiest” way to do penance, as everyone can learn to fast. One doesn’t have to be of a certain rank to fast, it can be accomplished in the secrecy of one’s heart. When we give alms, it might be noticed, but if we refrain from food, it can be done discreetly. Following the counsel of Christ, “But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.” [Matthew 6:6] Thus, the best way to prepare for a feast, seems to first fast and do penance.
These penitential practices draw our hearts and minds to the Heavenly Banquet - the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. You will agree that as children, we learn to fast, by first learning abstinence; then gradually we start fasting. In the same way, we begin to fast in preparation for liturgical feasts, with the eyes of our heart resting on the Eternal Feast. We learn to give up some food on vigils and during penitential seasons, until we can give up all our other attachments, to the world, and fly with the wings of Faith to the Banquet in God’s Kingdom, when He calls us. While Advent prepares us for the coming Feast of Christmas, we should always remember that we are here, on earth, preparing for the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, that is our true goal.
A very old Tradition
The oldest document in which we find the length and exercises of Advent mentioned with anything like clearness, is a passage in the second book of the History of the Franks by St. Gregory of Tours, where he says that St. Perpetuus, one of his predecessors, who held that see about the year 480, had decreed a fast three times a week, from the feast of St. Martin until Christmas. It would be impossible to decide whether St. Perpetuus, by his regulations, established a new custom, or merely enforced an already existing law. Let us, however, note this interval of forty, or rather of forty-three days, so expressly mentioned, and consecrated to penance, as though it were a second Lent, though less strict and severe than that which precedes Easter. [source: THE LITURGICAL LIFE a Commentary on the Daily Liturgy of the Church by Dom Prosper Guéranger]
Thus, following the oldest custom, we can begin today, to set our mind on the coming season of Advent. Today, the feast of St. Martin of Tours, 11 November, is a great day to get into the preparation for the preparation. As the preparatory prayers and thanksgiving prayers for the Divine Office teach us, we need to pray for help to pray and we need to thank God for His help after we have prayed.
Prayer Before The Divine Office
Open, O Lord, my mouth to bless thy holy Name; cleanse also my heart from all vain, evil, and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding and kindle my affections; that I may worthily, attentively, and devoutly recite this Hour [or these Hours], and so be meet to be heard before the presence of thy divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord, in union with that divine intention wherewith thou, whilst here on earth, didst render praises unto God, I desire to offer this my Office of prayer unto thee.
Prayer After The Divine Office
To the Most Holy and undivided Trinity, to the Manhood of our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified, to the fruitful Virginity of the most blessed and most glorious Mary, always a Virgin, and to the holiness of all the Saints be ascribed everlasting praise, honour, and glory, by all creatures, and to us be granted the forgiveness of all our sins, world without end.
R. Amen.
V. Blessed be the womb of the Virgin Mary which bore the Son of the Eternal Father.
R. And blessed be the paps which gave suck to Christ our Lord.
Then is said secretly an Our Father and a Hail Mary.
To Do:
Today, we will just make up our mind to prepare for Advent. Write down in a small journal, one thing that you would give up for Advent as a penitential practice, with your eyes on the Christ Child in the manger. He left His Father’s house, to be born in a manager, for you; what will you give up for Him?
A few Suggestions:
Wake up 15 minutes earlier than you do to say the Little Crown of Our Lady
Say diligently morning and night prayers all through Advent
Give up sugar in your coffee, no one will ever know
Say the Confiteor before you sleep with the intention of doing penance
Write out your own penitential practice for this season, in a diary that you will use. Writing it down, will help you commit to doing it.
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