Theology

• Advent o It comes from the Latin word ‘adventus’, and signifies the arrival or coming of a person.
• Advent - First season of the liturgical year
• Liturgical year - the church’s annual cycle of feast days.
• Advent has four weeks or four Sundays before the Christmas Season.
• Advent Wreath o It is a traditional Advent decoration during the Advent Season.
• Advent wreath represents eternal life, and the four candles represent the virtues of hope, peace, joy, and love.
• Prophecy Candle - It symbolizes Hope, reminding us that Jesus or the Messiah is coming.
• Bethlehem Candle - It symbolizes Peace, it had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King David.
• Shepherd’s Candle - It symbolizes Joy, it represents shepherd’s great joy, and the angels announced that Jesus came for humble people like them, too
• Angel’s Candle - It represents Love, to show God’s love and fulfil His promises to humankind, and he came to bring people close to God and to each other again
• Confession During Advent - To seek forgiveness for past wrongdoings and work towards personal spiritual growth.
• Christmas - It is observed generally on the 25th December to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
• Christmas - It is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world.
• Different countries have unique customs and traditions associated with Christmas, reflecting their cultural heritage and belief.
• Nativity Scene - It best day to display a tableau about the Nativity scene of Jesus Christ's birth.
• It is a popular tradition during the Christmas season and serves as a visual representation of the Christmas story
• Magi or the Three Wise Men - These are the people that came to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, and they bring presents to the Messiah.
• Christmas Carols - They contribute to the festive atmosphere during the Christmas Season. - They help to bring people together and foster a sense of community
• Gift–giving - Refer to intentional acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion undertaken by individuals, or organizations during the period surrounding Christmas.
• Attending Masses - The act of participating in religious services, specifically Mass, held in churches.
• The Midnight Mass (Mass at Night) - It marks the beginning of Christmas Day.
• The Dawn Mass (Mass at Dawn) - Anticipation of the new day and the light.
• The Day Mass (Mass during the Day) - It is a joyful and celebratory Mass that emphasizes the incarnation of Jesus.
• Ordinary refers to the "ordinal numbers", used to name and count the Sundays.
• Ordinary - To provide a period of growth and maturation for Christians. To celebrate the parables and teachings of Jesus Christ.
• Liturgical Color of Ordinary - Green symbolizes growth, life, and hope.
• Liturgical Color - Focuses on personal growth and discipleship.
• Green Liturgical - The general atmosphere in liturgical practices is calm and reflective.
• Occurrence – Twice a year Between Epiphany and Lent, and between Pentecost and Advent.
• Two Fish and Basket of Loaves - This is Jesus’ miracle and is commonly known as the Feeding of the 5,000. It emphasizes that a little faith and cooperation can result in great abundance.
• Lenten The 40 days represents Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.
• Lenten - The date of Lent changes each year, depending on the date of Easter
• Ash Wednesday - The ashes used on Ash Wednesday made from the burned palm leaves used last year.
• Palm Sunday - Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Sunday before his crucifixion and was greeted by crowds of people who laid leaves on the ground to honor him
• Spy Wednesday - Judas Iscariot secretly conspires with the Jewish and Roman leaders.
• Triduum - Final three days of Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
• Maundy Thursday - Commemorates Jesus' commandment to love one another as He loved us. o

  • During Supper, Jesus predicts that one of the disciples will betray him, and that is Judas Iscariot.
  • In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas Iscariot identify Jesus to the group by a kiss
• Good Friday o Friday is traditionally observed as a day of abstinence. - - Foods to consume during this day are fish, fruits, vegetables, and water.

  • The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate presented Jesus and Barabbas to the crowd.
• Black Saturday - Joseph of Arimathea asked the Roman Governor for permission to take down and bury the body of Jesus.
• Three Pilarts of Lent - Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving