The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season known as Advent and are represented by the liturgical colour purple. The remaining days of December mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The liturgical colour changes to white or gold — a symbol of joy, purity and innocence.

THE ADVENT COLLECT

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Feast days in December

1 Charles de Foucauld, Hermit in the Sahara, 1916

3 Francis Xavier, Missionary, Apostle of the Indies, 1552

4 John of Damascus, Monk , Teacher of the Faith, c.749

4 Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637

6 Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326

7 Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Teacher of the Faith, 397

8 The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

13 Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304

13 Samuel Johnson, Moralist, 1784

14 John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591

17 O Sapientia

17 Eglantyne Jebb, Social Reformer, Founder of ‘Save The Children’, 1928

24 Christmas Eve

25 Christmas Day

26 Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr

27 John, Apostle and Evangelist

28 The Holy Innocents

29 Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, Martyr, 1170

31 John Wycliff, Reformer, 1384