This year, Sunday, December 1, marks the beginning of Advent, the beginning of the liturgical year. In his book, The Catholic’s Manual, Fr. Tilmann Pesch , S.J. writes: “As the real coming of Christ was preceded by a time of preparation, so the feast of Christmas is introduced by the season of Advent. During Advent, we are bidden to meditate on our sinfulness, and the endless misery caused thereby, to realize the need of a Savior, to conceive a great desire of His coming, an