Text and Illustrations from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.
First Sunday of Advent.
Station at Saint Mary Major.
Stational Indulgence of 10 years
and 10 Quarantines.
Privileged Sunday of The First-Class.
Semi-Double.
Violet Vestments.
"See the fig tree and all the trees: When they now shoot forth their fruit,
you know that Summer is nigh; so you also, when you shall see these things
come to pass, know that The Kingdom of God is at hand".
Illustration: UNA VOCE OF ORANGE COUNTY
Artist: Rene de Cramer.
"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".
At Christmas, Jesus will be born into our hearts, for at that time the Anniversary of His Birth will be Celebrated. He refuses nothing to the Prayer of The Church, His Spouse, and thus He will grant to our Souls the same Graces which He gave the Shepherds and the Three Kings.
Christ will come again, also, at the end of time, to "condemn The Guilty to the flames, and to call The Just with a loving voice to Heaven" (Hymn for Matins).
The whole of today's Mass is a preparation for this double Advent of Mercy and Justice. Some parts of it can be applied equally to either (e.g., the Introit, Collect, Gradual, Alleluia), while others refer to our Divine Redeemer's lowly birth, and others, again, (e.g., the Epistle and Gospel), to His coming in the splendour of His power and majesty.
Liturgy for the First Sunday of Advent.
Available on YouTube at
In former times, on this First Sunday of Advent, all the people of Rome made the Station at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, to assist at The Solemn Mass which the Pope Celebrated, surrounded by his Clergy. This particular Church was chosen because it is Mary who gave us Jesus, and because Relics of the Crib, in which The Blessed Mother placed her Divine Child, are preserved in this Church.
Every Parish Priest says Mass for the people of his Parish.
Sermon for The First Sunday of Advent.
Available on YouTube at
Mass: Ad te levavi.
The Gloria in excelsis is omitted during Advent, except on Feast Days.
When, on The Ferias of Advent, The Mass of The Sunday is said, the Alleluia and its Versicle are not said, but only the Gradual.
Preface: Of The Most Holy Trinity.
During the week: The Common Preface is said.
The Benedicamus Domino is said instead of Ite Missa Est, as is the rule whenever the Gloria in excelsis is omitted.
During Advent and Lent, on Ember Days, Vigils, and Rogation Days, when a Mass of any Feast is said, Commemoration is always made of The Feria.
For the Commemoration of The Ferias of Lent, the Collect, Secret, and Postcommunion of the preceding Sunday are said, except on Ember Days, which have Proper Prayers.
