Quotes from _The Liturgical Year_ by Prosper Guéranger, 1949. The name _Advent_ 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 . . . It would seem 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. Without quoting everything, it appears that the season of Advent at first was 40 days long and was observed as a season of penance, another Lent, complete with fasting on Mon, Wed, and Fri. Gradually, the season was reduced to 4 weeks by the 9th century. Some extra devoted people appear to have kept the 40 day penitential season for another couple centuries, but by the 12th century, only clergy were required to abstain. My point being that many of the trappings of liturgy are not nearly as ancient as some would like to believe. I think keeping to liturgical traditions can lead to meditation and spiritual development, but I also think that sternly forcing the external trappings of liturgy upon people, or judging those who do not follow ones own liturgical customs as though they are at fault or wrong, in itself is simply wrong. In my opinion it can be a beautiful connection to the past to observe old traditions, but I personally think God simply does not care whether people put up Christmas lights during Advent, or EVEN WHETHER WE SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS in church during Advent. I dont, but I dont think God cares. I think God DOES care whether we treat one another with love and respect.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 16:11:53 +0000
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