Read by Fr. John F. Baldovin, S.J., S.T.L., Ph.D

Join award-winning teacher and world-renown liturgical theologian Fr. John Baldovin, S.J. in exploring the richness of two of our most vital liturgical seasons: Advent and Christmas. Advent. Advent is a season of expectation for the final coming of the Lord and for the annual celebration of his birth at Christmas. This series is designed to capture the spirit of Advent through its liturgical prayers, Scripture readings, music and poetry. Explore the three great figures of Advent: The Blessed Virgin Mary, John the Baptist and the Prophet Isaiah. One presentation focuses entirely on the two great Marian feasts of Advent: the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas (December 12).Advent, and this course, encourages you to reflect on Christian hope as well as on the timeless messages preached by John the Baptist and by the prophets of the Old Testament. The final week of Advent, with its "O Antiphons", inspires the ardent prayer: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." Christmas. Christmas is the most popular season of the Christian liturgical year. It celebrates the birth of the Lord Jesus on December 25 as well as a number of feasts associated with his Incarnation. By means of the liturgical prayers, the Scripture readings, and the poetry and music of Christmas you can grow in appreciation of the meaning of its celebration. Through this series, you will focus on the "Holy Night" on which the Savior was born and on the origins of Christmas in the city of Rome. You will also explore the other two Masses of Christmas day and the celebrations that follow. This course will give you newfound Christmas joy and understanding

Mode of access: World Wide Web