The liturgical season of Advent begins with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew. It may therefore begin as early as November 27th if that day is a Sunday, or as late as December 3rd, if that day falls on a Thursday.

There are always four Sundays in Advent, though the fourth Sunday may be Christmas Eve.

• Advent I

• Advent II

• Advent III - Gaudete Sunday

• Advent IV

In the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter, there is one solemnity that is celebrated as a holy day of obligation. This is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8th. If this solemnity falls on the same day as the Second Sunday of Advent, the solemnity is transferred to the Monday, but not the obligation to attend mass.

The Advent Wreath is placed in the chancel near the Gospel-Side choir stall. The wreath contains four candles - three violet and one rose. It may be blessed just before the Vigil Mass of the First Sunday in Advent.

The Gloria is not sung during Advent, except on the Solemnities such as The Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8).

While Advent does not share the same penitential character as Lent, the mood of the season is still somber and austere. Hence flowers do not adorn the altar or any of the shrines in the church, except on Solemnities and on Gaudete Sunday when pink roses sit on the high altar.

Form I of the Prayers of the People is used throughout the season

On the Sundays of Advent, Choral Matins is sung by the choir from the chancel, thirty minutes before the solemn 11:15am mass.

The Te Deum should be sung at matins on Sundays during Advent, according to the norms of the modern Roman Rite.