The Diocese of Phoenix recently celebrated the first Sunday of Advent, a time where the Church remembers the coming of the messiah in the person of Jesus Christ, marked each Sunday by the lighting of a candle. 

There are four Sundays of Advent, an anticipatory season in the Church. 

“Advent begins today! We pray that you and your family have a blessed and fruitful Advent season as we prepare our hearts for the birth of our Savior,” the Diocese of Phoenix posted on Facebook in commemoration of the first Sunday.

According to Christianity.com, the word “advent” comes from the Latin “adventus” which means “coming.”

“It originated at a time when early Christians would prepare for the baptisms of new Christians on the Epiphany. The Advent season also anticipated the Magi visiting baby Jesus, Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, and Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana. Christians used the Advent season as a 40-day period of fasting and prayer. Advent was not directly linked to Christ’s birth at Christmas until the Middle Ages.”

On the first Sunday of Advent, the Catholic Church prays for hope and remembers the hope that we have through the promises of God, most clearly through the person of Christ. Throughout the season of Advent, Catholics are encouraged to pray and prepare their hearts for the symbolic coming of Christ.

The Advent wreath features three purple candles, two for the first two Sundays of Advent, followed by a pink candle on the third Sunday and concluding with another purple candle on the final Sunday of Advent. 

According to DailyPress, “The purple symbolizes preparation and repentance. The circular wreath symbolizes God’s eternal nature. The pink candle, which is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, signifies that the waiting period is almost over."