As the Church enters the final days of Advent, Catholics are invited to deepen their preparation for Christmas by reflecting on ancient liturgical traditions that emphasize humility, reverence, and the nearness of Christ’s coming.
A text recently shared by LifeSiteNews draws from the Church’s older liturgical heritage to explain why the Gospel proclaimed late in Advent is repeated across multiple days, and how this practice reflects the Church’s historical rhythm of worship and ordination.
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According to the source, in the early centuries of the Roman Church, ordinations were not brief daytime ceremonies but extended vigils held overnight between Saturday and Sunday. These solemn rites often concluded well into Sunday morning, so “the Mass of ordination was considered as the Mass of Sunday itself.” As a result, certain Sundays, including the Fourth Sunday of Advent, originally did not have a distinct Mass or Gospel of their own.
When Church discipline later relaxed and overnight vigils were discontinued, this presented a liturgical gap. The text explains that by “about the tenth or eleventh century,” the Church resolved this by assigning the Gospel used at ordinations to be proclaimed again during the Sunday Mass. This historical development helps explain why the same Gospel reading appears on consecutive days late in Advent.
The station church traditionally associated with these ordinations was St. Peter’s Basilica, chosen not only for its spiritual significance but also for practical reasons. According to the source, it “was always one of the largest of the city of Rome, and was therefore the best suited for the great concourse of people” who gathered for these important moments in the life of the Church.
Beyond historical explanation, the text also turns the faithful toward Marian devotion, encouraging believers to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary as Christmas draws near. Drawing from Eastern Christian tradition, the source presents a hymn that praises Mary’s unique role in salvation history. One line proclaims, “As a royal throne, thou carriest the Creator; as a living couch, thou encirclest the King, O creature most dear to God.” Another reflects on the mystery of the Incarnation, stating that “no mind, no thought, no understanding, no words, can reach the mystery” of Mary’s divine maternity.
The hymn also recalls prophetic imagery from Isaiah, likening Mary to the burning bush preserved by God’s power. As the text states, “the Holy Spirit hath come upon thee, O Mother of God! preserving thee, as heretofore he kept entire the burning bush.”
The reflection concludes with a prayer drawn from the Mozarabic Missal, which unites Christ’s first coming in humility with His promised return in glory. According to the prayer, Christ “heretofore came in humility to dwell with us” and will one day “come to judge us in meekness.” The prayer asks that the same Lord who redeemed humanity through His Passion may also lead the faithful to heaven and make them just at His second coming.
LifeSiteNews notes that the material comes from The Liturgical Year by Dom Prosper Guéranger, written between 1841 and 1875. The work remains a foundational text for understanding the spiritual meaning of the Church’s liturgical seasons. According to LifeSiteNews, the text was made available through The Ecu-Men website, preserving a classic resource for modern readers.
As Advent reaches its final days, these reflections offer Catholics a reminder that the Church’s traditions are deeply rooted in prayer, sacrifice, and expectant hope. They invite the faithful not only to commemorate Christ’s birth, but to prepare their hearts for the Lord who “heretofore hid himself in deepest humility when He redeemed us,” and who will come again in glory.
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