Introit: First Sunday of Advent (Ad te levavi)

In the four weeks of Advent, most people think of a wreathe with four candles – three of them violet, and one rose. The first two are violet, representing hope and preparation respectively. The third candle (and week) is pink, for joy. The fourth returns to purple, for love. An “introit” is the first thing that happens in the mass. It is sung as the celebrants enter the sanctuary. This introit is extraordinarily special, for it is also the first of the new church year. You see, last Sunday – Christ the King of the Universe – ended the liturgical year. Now a week later, we begin anew. If this is the first introit of the first mass of the year, then it would be important to think about the first word. It is “to” (to you O Lord). So the year begins by looking to somebody and toward something. How are we to look to the Lord? The end of the first stanza tells us that it is to be with hope – “I have hoped in you all day long.” Accordingly, that is theme of Advent 1. Memory is its second theme. The introit appeals to God’s goodness, asking that he remember his compassion and not our sins. That is where the violet comes in, for it is the color of reflection, penance, and spiritual conversion. These come first. Without them, there can be no hope, preparation, joy, or love.