(Thank you, Father Claude Franklin, pastor of St. Joseph, Olean NY - for explaining this Season in our Maronite Liturgical Year.)
Note, the readings, the prayers, and the Sundays themselves make no reference to the Second Coming of Christ during the Season of the Glorious Birth! Thus, it is not proper for Maronites to refer to this season as “Advent”, as that term carries with it some “liturgical baggage”. In the Latin Church “Advent” reflects a different focus than the Maronite Church’s season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ. Therefore, it is important that Maronites regain an appreciation for our proper terminology, to be able to fully appreciate what each season in the Maronite Church is saying to us in its own terms. When we adopt terminology which belongs to other churches (Latin, Byzantine, Coptic, etc.), we also end up adopting that church’s theological approach and thus, lose our own unique contribution to the Catholic Church.
The Season of the Glorious Birth is announcement after announcement of the Good News of the coming of the Messiah in the Flesh! We commemorate (Anamnesis) the historical events recorded in the New Testament which took place before Christ was born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, pure and simple.
With each announcement, we grow in anticipation for Our Lord’s coming Nativity; this season transports us into the atmosphere of what happened over two thousand years ago. With each announcement, we have time to ponder throughout the week the great and wonderous act of God’s love for us, by His taking on Flesh for our salvation.
- Like Zechariah, we may have doubts, but also like him we need to overcome them;
- like the Virgin Mary, we are called to have faith, that like her we may be servants of the Lord;
- like Elizabeth, we need to find opportunities to see Christ dwelling in others;
- like John the Baptist, we are called to prepare others for Christ;
- like Righteous Joseph we are called to be a guardians and protectors of the Church;
- and like Christ’s descendants, who were part of God’s Plan of Salvation which took place in the fullness of time, we need to see how God wants us to be part of His plan in spreading the Gospel of Salvation.
“Grant us to celebrate with joyful spirits and exalted hearts the Announcement of Your conception, the dawn of our salvation.” (First Prayer – Safro – Announcement to Mary)
