After the Sign of the Cross at the beginning of Mass, the priest may choose to greet the ... of the Roman Missal is introduced this Advent, the people will no longer respond, “And also with ...

During the holiday season, priests wear purple or blue and churches may include a more modestly decorated altar. The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839 when a Lutheran minister ...

He is also our “high priest,” from the mold of the mysterious Melchizedek ... We see biblical roots for this in the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Compare Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth ...