In a blog entry from 2019, she outlines the distinction from Lent: “Advent is MAINLY a time of preparation, while Lent is MAINLY a period of penance.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church employs comparable phrasing to characterize Advent. “As the church observes the liturgy of Advent annually, she brings forth this age-old anticipation of the Messiah, for by participating in the extensive preparation for the Savior’s inaugural arrival, the faithful rejuvenate their passionate longing for his return,” it states.

In comparison, the catechism describes Lent as one of the “significant periods of the church’s penitential observance.”

Embracing penitence during Advent?

Fr. Agustino Torres, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal and writer of the recently published book “Prepare Your Hearts: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation,” connected the aspects of penitence and preparation cohesively.

“Though it is not commonly regarded as one, Advent represents a period in which we can present penance to ready ourselves for the arrival of the Christ Child,” he stated. “It is not as penitential as Lent, yet there has been a longstanding custom in the church to engage in prayer vigils, fasting, and offerings throughout Advent.”

Timothy O’Malley, the educational director at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and the academic head of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, highlighted that a significant portion of the church’s calendar has traditionally been focused on penance.

“Advent embraces a reflective tone motivated by the three-fold coming of Jesus Christ,” he stated. “The Christ who arrives at the conclusion of time, who will assess the world. The Christ who enters the soul of every believer yearning for his presence. The Christ who comes as the infant child.”

He stated, “It is remorseful in the sense that we must question whether we are prepared for these different presences.”

Practices of Advent in the Catholic tradition

Similar to Lent, Advent in the Roman Catholic Church has traditionally encompassed fasting, O’Malley stated.

“Advent emerges as a period of fasting leading up to the festivities of Christmas, probably linked to the initiation of Christians,” he remarked. “However, the Roman rite was later to embrace this season of approximately four weeks — it is Gregory the Great who informs us about the four weeks. In Milan, we are aware it was six weeks (and continues to be).”

Advent is likewise characterized by the use of the Advent wreath, which O’Malley mentioned was embraced as a custom of popular devotion from Germany, and the O Antiphons, portrayals of the Messiah derived from the Book of Isaiah that are incorporated in the Liturgy of the Hours’ evening prayer from Dec. 17-23.

Father Torres also referenced fasting, vigils, garlands, and readings from the Prophet Isaiah. He noted that in numerous nations, the time frame from Dec. 17 until Christmas Eve “is abundant with prayers, processions, and devotions leading into a celebration and songs.”

He remarked, however, that “In the East, the monks would elevate it to Lenten standards.”

Certain Eastern Catholic churches, including the Byzantine Catholic Church, continue to traditionally practice the “Nativity fast,” also known as “St. Philip’s fast,” which starts on Nov. 15, the day their liturgical calendar commemorates the feast of St. Philip the Apostle. Similar to Lent’s 40-day fasting period leading up to Easter, the Nativity fast also spans 40 days before Christmas, although its guidelines are less strict than those observed during Lent.

Father Torres observed that Lent was incorporated into the church’s liturgical calendar prior to Advent.

“At first, only Easter included a preparatory period, but eventually Christmas established a comparable time known as Advent,” he stated. “Advent and Lent both have similar characteristics, including the violet liturgical color, the omission of the Gloria during Sunday Masses, and a designated Sunday of ‘joy’ in each season — Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday.”

The distinctions between Advent and Lent

The seasons also exhibit significant differences, Father Torres noted. “In contrast to Lent, which is devoid of flowers, Advent includes them in moderation. Lent portrays the theme of retreating into the desert, while Advent presents a voice emerging from the desert. Lent includes teachings on life transformation; Advent focuses on the realization of prophecy in our lives. Advent conveys a sense of joyful anticipation, as it aims to encapsulate the hope for the Messiah with heartfelt devotion, in contrast to Lent, which involves penitential activities such as the Way of the Cross,” he explained.

He remarked that the present expectations of Advent are that it represents a period of glad anticipation.

“If your house is preparing to welcome a special visitor, there comes a period of tidying up, preparing meals, and getting everything in order,” he stated. “We are preparing our spirits for Jesus during Advent in much the same manner.”

At her residence, Tierney mentions that she resists the urge to hurry into holiday decorating. Her family dedicates time to crafting paper snowflakes and threading popcorn, among other activities.

“Simply embracing the season by taking our time and approaching the decorating gradually has been truly significant for us,” she remarked.