LITURGY NEWSLETTER. Diocese of Venice in Florida ADVENT-CHRISTMAS SEASON

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1 Diocese of Venice in Florida LITURGY NEWSLETTER ADVENT-CHRISTMAS SEASON Portions of this Newsletter may be useful to include in parish bulletins. ADVENT: EXPECTANT DELIGHT FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD The Season of Advent is an invitation to pause in silence to recognize the signs of the coming of the presence of the Lord. Advent has a two-fold character, it is a time of preparation for the Solemnity of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ s Second Coming. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight (Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar, 39). Advent is the time we are given to welcome the Lord who comes to encounter us, and also to verify our longing for God, to look forward and prepare ourselves for Christ s return. He will return to us in the celebration of Christmas, when we will remember his historic coming in the humility of the human condition; but he enters our heart each time we are willing to receive him; and he will come again at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. Therefore, we must always be vigilant and await the Lord with the hope of encountering him. -Pope Francis NOTABLE DAYS OF THE ADVENT / CHRISTMAS SEASONS Office of Worship 1000 Pinebrook Road Venice, FL December 2, 2018: December 8, 2018: December 9, 2018: December 12, 2018: December 16, 2018: December 17-23, 2018: First Sunday of Advent (Saturday) Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Holy Day of Obligation) Second Sunday of Advent (Wednesday) Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) The O Antiphons sung/prayed in the Liturgy of the Hours December 23, 2018: Fourth Sunday of Advent

2 December 25, 2018: December 26, 2018: December 27, 2018: December 28, 2018: December 30, 2018: January 1, 2019: January 6, 2019: January 13, 2019: (Tuesday) Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord (Holy Day of Obligation) (Wednesday) Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (Thursday) Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (Friday) Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (Tuesday) Octave of Christmas - Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation) Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Feast of the Baptism of the Lord* *After the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Ordinary Time begins on Monday, January 14, THE ADVENT SEASON With Evening Prayer I of the First Sunday of Advent, the new Liturgical Year of the Church begins. Advent weekdays have their own proper Mass texts. The texts of the Liturgy of the Hours draw from the Seasonal Propers. The Lectionary cycle beginning this Advent are as follows: Sunday Cycle Year C Weekday Cycle in Ordinary Time Cycle I Before December 17, 2018, Advent Preface I is used. On Memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, however, the corresponding Preface in the Roman Missal may be used in place of the weekday or seasonal Preface. Advent ends after Midafternoon Prayer (None) on Christmas Eve. Please note that for Spanish Masses, the U.S. edition of the Misal Romano, Tercera Edición, must be used beginning with the First Sunday of Advent. EXPRESSIONS OF THE ADVENT SEASON Gloria A reminder that the Gloria in NOT sung or recited on any of the Sundays during Advent (General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM], 53). However, the Gloria is sung or recited on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)

3 Official Colors in Advent The official color for the Season of Advent is violet or purple (GIRM, 346d). In order to distinguish between this season and the specifically penitential season of Lent, the color violet is used during Advent. Please remember that blue vestments are not authorized for use. On the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), rose color vestments may be worn (GIRM, 346f). The Use of Instruments During Advent Concerning music during Advent, the GIRM indicates, the use of the organ or other musical instruments should be marked by a moderation suited to the character of Advent, without expressing in anticipation the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord. (GIRM, 313). Decorations During Advent During Advent, the Church calls for moderation to be observed in the decoration of the altar and of the church. The GIRM indicates, Floral decoration of the altar should be marked by a moderation suited to the character of this time of year, without expressing in anticipation the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord. (GIRM, 305). Floral decorations should be arranged around the altar rather than on the altar. These same principles also apply for celebrations of weddings during the Advent Season. Advent Reconciliation Services In addition to the regular time during the week when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered at a parish for individuals, the scheduling of a time for a celebration of the Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents (with Individual Confession and Absolution) is recommended especially during the penitential seasons of Advent and Lent. Where this is celebrated, the Rite of Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution is to be done (Chapter II of the Rite of Penance). Since the conditions required for the allowance of general absolution do not exist in the Diocese of Venice, the Rite of Reconciliation of Several Penitents with General Confession and Absolution is not to be done. Blessing Prayer of the Advent Wreath The Advent Wreath is a popular symbol in both homes and churches during the Season of Advent. Traditionally, the wreath has three violet and one rose candle, with the rose candle lighted on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday (Book of Blessings # ). When placed in a church, the Advent Wreath should not interfere with the celebration of the liturgy, nor should it obscure the altar, lectern, or chair. (Book of Blessings, #1512). The Book of Blessings provides a blessing for the Advent Wreath for use on the First Sunday of Advent in #1517-#1520. The blessing takes place following the Prayer of the Faithful. On the following Sundays, the candles are lighted either before Mass begins or immediately before the opening prayer; no additional rites or prayers are used. (Book of Blessings, #1513)

4 SPECIAL MARIAN FEAST DAYS IN ADVENT 2018 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Saturday, December 8, 2018 The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Saturday, December 8, 2018, is a holy day of obligation in the Universal Church and is the patronal feast day of the United States. As a holy day of obligation, all the faithful are required to attend Mass on this day. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Wednesday, December 12, 2018 Processions in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe are appropriate on this Feast. Many other local customs, including the re-enactment, outside of the Liturgy, of the story of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, are also appropriate. These customs may enhance the celebration of this Feast as well as the celebration of the last weeks of the Advent Season. THE CHRISTMAS SEASON For the faith of the Christian people relives in the Christmas liturgy the mystery of the God who comes, who assumes our mortal human flesh, and who becomes lowly and poor in order to save us. And this moves us deeply, for great is the tenderness of our Father. - Pope Francis After the annual celebration of the Paschal Mystery the Church has no more ancient custom than celebrating the memorial of the Nativity of the Lord and His first manifestations, and this takes place in Christmas Time. (cf. Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year and Calendar, 32). The Christmas Season runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord up to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 14, The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord has its own Octave which includes, most notably: December 26, 2018, (Wednesday) Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr December 27, 2018, (Thursday) Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist December 28, 2018, (Friday) Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs December 30, 2018, (Sunday) Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph January 1, 2019, (Tuesday) Octave of Christmas - Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Official Colors in Christmas The normal liturgical color for Christmas is white (GIRM, 346a). However, gold may also be worn. (GIRM, 346h). Genuflection during the Nicene Creed At all Masses celebrating the Nativity of the Lord, all genuflect during the Creed at the words, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man

5 Christmas Tree Blessing According to the Book of Blessings, The Christmas Tree may be blessed on or before Christmas during a celebration of the word of God, or during Morning or Evening Prayer. (Book of Blessings, #1572). The Order of Blessing is found in Book of Blessings # or # Christmas Proclamation The Christmas Proclamation, known as The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ, is found in the Roman Missal. This may be chanted or recited, most appropriately, on December 24 th during the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours. It may also be chanted or recited before the beginning of Christmas Mass during the Night. It may not replace any part of the Mass. It can be proclaimed by a deacon, cantor, or reader. The text and musical notation are found in Appendix I of the Roman Missal, Third Edition. Placement of the Manger If the manger is set up in the Church, it must not obstruct the area around the altar. A place should be chosen that is suitable for prayer and devotion and is easily accessible (cf. Book of Blessings, #1544). A blessing for a Christmas manger or Nativity Scene is found in Chapter 48 of the Book of Blessings (# or # ). The Blessing of Homes The Christmas Season, especially the Solemnity of the Epiphany, is a traditional time when homes may be blessed. The Blessing of Homes can be found in the Book of Blessings # Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Sunday, December 30, 2018 At Mass on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the priest may wish to make use of the Blessing of a Family found in the Book of Blessings # Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (Octave of the Nativity of the Lord) Tuesday, January 1, 2019 Tuesday, January 1, 2019 is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and is a Holy Day of Obligation. It is also the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord. Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Sunday, January 6, 2019 The Epiphany Proclamation is found in Appendix I of the Roman Missal and can be solemnly sung by a deacon or cantor from the ambo following the proclamation of the Gospel. A reminder that in the Roman Missal, there is a Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord to be used for Saturday evening Masses on the eve of the Solemnity of the Epiphany. After the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Ordinary Time begins on Monday, January 14, MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SEASON! - 5 -