Leaving Ordinary Time

Now we leave Ordinary Time,

That liturgical period of plain normalcy,

When the great feasts are on vacation,

When we stay in the valley of plain worship.

Now we enter the great season of Advent,

A time of prayerful anticipation, expectation,

Waiting for the great events to come. 

Now the pace of the hours quickens.

Now there are signs of great things to come—

Omens, portents, indications.

Goodbye, Ordinary Time.

We will resume you after the tumult

Of Advent, Christmas, and

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

--November 29, 2013