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It will soon be advent season.

Xeno.of.athens

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Advent is coming. I type it with joy, rather than with the feeling of doom that accompanied "Winter is coming" in the Game of Thrones fantasy world.

Advent is the season of the Liturgy where Christians think back to the first advent of the Lord Jesus Christ and think in anticipation of the second advent of the Lord, which is yet to come but which is so deeply connected to our resurrection hope and the coming of God's kingdom for eternity.

The first advent inspired songs such as this:
The second advent inspires songs of hope and glory. I am sure that many of you can think of some such songs.
 
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Xeno.of.athens

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What is your favorite part of the first Advent (portion of the life of Jesus)?, and Why (is it personal to you)?
It is always awesome to think of God descending to earth to live as an infant and grow to manhood. The thought is astounding. To have almighty God, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent here on earth, personally present among us, and like us. That is a gift almost too great to comprehend. And, yes, it is deeply personal.
On the second Advent, Do you think we can live that heavenly life now, while we look forward to the second Advent of Jesus? What do you think the second Advent of Jesus will be like? Can you describe?
The second advent is a mystery and a promise; something to which one looks forward and yet which remains only partly revealed. The resurrection, the glorification, and being in the presence of God in his magnificence is a wonder that words are incapable of encompassing.
 
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The Liturgist

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I like the idea of thinking about the first Advent, and about what it will be like in the Advent of Jesus to come.

What is your favorite part of the first Advent (portion of the life of Jesus)?, and Why (is it personal to you)?

On the second Advent, Do you think we can live that heavenly life now, while we look forward to the second Advent of Jesus? What do you think the second Advent of Jesus will be like? Can you describe?

I like Gaudete Sunday for the rose-colored vestments.
 
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ViaCrucis

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Advent is perhaps one of my favorite times of the year. A Season of hope, joy, and patience for the Church.

One of my favorite Advent hymns was one authored by Charles Wesley, here is that hymn as sung by Fernando Ortega, one of my favorite musical artists when it comes to modern adaptations of classic hymns,


Another version I really love is from this video by The Skit Guys,


Amen, come Lord Jesus.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Xeno.of.athens

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I like Gaudete Sunday for the rose-colored vestments.
Many priests are reluctant to wear rose coloured vestments because rose is so close to pink :)

I'd be all too pleased to wear rose coloured vestments were I a priest.
 
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The Liturgist

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Many priests are reluctant to wear rose coloured vestments because rose is so close to pink :)

I'd be all too pleased to wear rose coloured vestments were I a priest.

I wear them. :) Actually I use them during the Apostles and Dormition fasts as well, in the summer.
 
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The Liturgist

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Good day,

My yearly Advent reading is

Athanasius:On the Incarnation

On the Incarnation (eBook) | Monergism

Anyone who reads St. Athanasius yearly is a seeker of virtue in my opinion, because I agree with St. Gregory the Theologian who in Oration XXI wrote “In praising Athanasius, I shall be praising virtue.”

A83A9E01-0B8D-49B0-973F-2D16EB9DB9CC.jpeg
 
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RickardoHolmes

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ADVENT is my favorite liturgical season I spent a lot of time practicing the more mystical "Spiritual preparation for Christmas" which would include time and meditation on the writings of the Saints, as well as writing advent devotionals for an audience. I look forward to it, with excitement, with anticipation and with reverence.
 
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Xeno.of.athens

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Sunday 27th of November 2022 is the first Sunday of Advent.
To you, I lift up my soul, O my God.
In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame.
Nor let my enemies exult over me;
and let none who hope in you be put to shame.

...
You know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ.

...
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be like this when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.

‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
...


It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.

For he assumed at his first coming
the lowliness of human flesh,
and so fulfilled the design you formed long ago,
and opened for us the way to eternal salvation,
that, when he comes again in glory and majesty
and all is at last made manifest,
we who watch for that day
may inherit the great promise
in which now we dare to hope.

And so, with Angels and Archangels,
with Thrones and Dominions,
and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven,
we sing the hymn of your glory,
as without end we acclaim:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
...

Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.


 
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