Advent and Christmas

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* 1. Why is the rose-colored candle lit on the Advent wreath for the third Sunday of Advent?

Answer:   It marks the mid-point of the season and calls us to rejoice in the Lord always.

“The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday because in Latin, the first words of the opening antiphon for that day’s Mass are ‘Gaudete in Domino semper’ (‘Rejoice in the Lord always’). On this Sunday, rose-colored vestments are [worn by the priests] and the rose-colored candle is lit as a reminder that we are called to rejoice.”
From:  https://www.franciscanmedia.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-advent/

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* 2. May the Sacrament of Matrimony be performed in a Catholic church during Advent?

Answer:   Yes (but it is not recommended).

“You may schedule your wedding for any day or time you like except for Good Friday and Holy Saturday... You may also want to avoid scheduling your wedding during Advent… weddings held during [Advent] should take into account the fact that the whole Church is observing a special period of penance. Your pastor may advise you to "tone down" your wedding if you choose to hold it during this period.”
From:  http://www.catholicweddinghelp.com/wedding-planning/04-setting-date.htm
 

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* 3. Which saint, before his conversion, approved the stoning of the first Christian martyr?

Answer:   Saint Paul (known as Saul before his conversion)

December 26th is the Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr. Saint Stephen "was continually quoting Jesus and the prophets to the effect that external usages and all the ancient holy rites were of less importance than the spirit; that even the Temple might be destroyed, as it had been in the past, without damage to the true and eternal religion. It was talk of this sort, carried by hearsay and rumor about the city, and often misquoted, intentionally or not, that was to draw down upon Stephen the wrath of the Jewish priestly class. . . .

“They rushed upon Stephen, drove him outside the city to the place appointed, and stoned him. At this time Jewish law permitted the death penalty by stoning for blasphemy. Stephen, full of ‘grace and fortitude’ to the very end, met the great test without flinching, praying the Lord to receive his spirit and not to lay this sin against the people. So perished the first martyr, his dying breath spent in prayer for those who killed him. Among those present at the scene and approving of the penalty meted out to Stephen was a young Jew named Saul, the future Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles: his own conversion to Christianity was to take place within a few short months [emphasis added].”
From:  https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/saint-stephen-the-first-martyr-scriptural-saint-5846

 

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* 4. Which of the following is NOT a holy day of obligation?

Answer:  Christmas Eve is NOT a holy day of obligation

Christmas Eve, December 24, is not a holy day of obligation because it is the vigil for Christmas.

“The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve.  A vigil Mass is celebrated the evening before the actual holy day of obligation.  In the United States only four holy days have vigils: Christmas, Pentecost, the Assumption, and All Saints.”
From:  https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/vigil-of-christmas-664  

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* 5. From what century is the earliest known record of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th?

Answer:  4th Century (in the year 336)

“We know for certain that Christians in Rome were celebrating the birth of Christ on December 25 in the year 336. This date may have been chosen as a Christian response to a pagan Roman festival honoring the ‘Unconquered Sun-God,’ from clues detected in scripture, or for both reasons.” 
From:  https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201212/who-invented-advent-26682

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