Today, the Catholic Church begins Advent, a joyful time of waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ. On weekday mornings, roraty Masses are celebrated at dawn in churches, and the faithful attend them with lanterns. Parishes organize retreats and days of recollection.
Auxiliary Bishop of the Warsaw-Praga Diocese Tomasz Sztajerwald said that Advent encompasses the four Sundays before Christmas. It begins on the Sunday after the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe, which ends the liturgical year in the Church.
He noted that the word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning coming or arrival.
“In antiquity, this word referred to the servants’ expectation of their master’s return from a long journey. The servants did not know exactly when their master would return, which is why they had to remain constantly ready throughout his absence. This is precisely what the Church calls us to during this period: to remain vigilant and ready for the coming of the Lord”, he explained.
Bishop Sztajerwald pointed out that Advent is divided into two distinct periods. From the First Sunday of Advent until 16 December, the Church encourages the faithful to focus on waiting for the second coming of Jesus at the end of times.
“As Christians, we do not know when that moment will occur, just like the servants waiting for their Lord. The Church reminds us that we must prepare as best as possible for the encounter with Him. As St. Peter wrote in his letter: ‘The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, but is patient toward you and wants everyone to come to conversion’ (cf. 2 Pet 3:9)”, he noted.
He added that the period from 17 to 24 December is a time of direct preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord.
As Bishop Sztajerwald emphasized, in the past Advent was more penitential in character and associated with fasting practices. Today, the Church highlights the joy of awaiting Christ’s coming.
“Nevertheless, some still practice certain forms of self-denial or asceticism that may help them experience this time fruitfully. At the beginning of Advent, it is worth asking ourselves whether our lives contain too many distractions that hinder our focus. Perhaps it is worthwhile to limit the use of social media during this period in order to have more time for prayer, for being with God and with others”, he said.
He noted that a good practice encouraged by the Church is participation in Advent retreats or days of recollection organized in parishes.
Bishop Sztajerwald stated that throughout Advent, except on Sundays and solemnities, roraty Masses are celebrated daily at dawn. They are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, symbolized during the liturgy by a white candle tied with a white or blue ribbon.
Roraty Masses begin before sunrise. The faithful come to churches in darkness, carrying lit lanterns.
“The darkness prevailing in the church symbolizes the gloom that covered the earth before Christ’s coming. The sun rising during Mass is a symbol of Christ, whose coming disperses the darkness of sin”, he explained.
He recalled that in Poland, the tradition of roraty Masses originated in the 13th century. The name roraty comes from the opening words of the Latin entrance chant sung during Advent: Rorate caeli desuper (“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above”).
“I strongly encourage parents to come to roraty Masses with their children. I know that because of the early hour, it may be difficult to attend church every day. Still, it is worth making the effort to come at least once a week. For children, this is often an experience they remember for a long time: walking among people heading to church with lanterns, the dim light in the church, the characteristic hymns, and after Mass, in many parishes, a shared breakfast with sweet buns and warm cocoa”, he said.
He added that many parish priests prepare special activities for children during this time. In some parishes, children collect stickers or stamps, which they exchange for prizes at the end of Advent.
As he noted, another characteristic sign of this period is the Advent calendar with 24 windows containing treats for each day. “Some parents prepare their own Advent calendar for their children. I have seen a calendar made of colorful envelopes or small boxes, one for each day of Advent, containing slips of paper with tasks. A child opens one box each day and tries to complete the task inside, for example, ‘today I will say something kind to someone’ or ‘today I will pray for my deceased loved ones’. Some boxes may contain tasks, while others small gifts or sweets”, Bishop Sztajerwald explained.
He pointed out that one of the symbols of this liturgical season is the Advent wreath, which is placed before the altar in churches. He explained that the essential elements of the wreath are four candles, lit successively on each Sunday of Advent. According to the bishop, a similar wreath may be prepared at home to serve as a daily reminder of how much time remains until Christmas.
“Each of the four candles has a special meaning: the first symbolizes hope, the second peace, the third joy, and the fourth love. Their light, meanwhile, symbolizes Christ, whom we await”, he explained.