Red Wednesday

Theme: Blessed are the persecuted

“By your perseverance you will secure your lives” - Luke 21:19

red symbolizes the blood of martyrs, the blood of women and men who have died in the name of their faith.

Martyr - someone who chooses to sacrifice their life or face pain and suffering instead of giving up something they
hold sacred.

• They shed blood for their faith.

• Like the early Christians and most of the saints.
• studies have shown that Christians remain the most persecuted faith group in the world, particularly in the
Middle East and Africa.
• In 2016, Red Wednesday was first organized in the United Kingdom;
• In 2017, a number of dioceses in the Philippines started joining the campaign.
• In January 2020, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) declared Red Wednesday as
an official church activity in the Philippines.
1. Goal of the event is to raise awareness and to pray for persecuted Christians, who are the most
discriminated against religious group in the world.
2. To shine a light on religious persecution and honor all Christians who have suffered and died for Christ.

Red Wednesday is an initiative of ACN to pray for, and draw attention to, Christians who suffer and are
persecuted for their faith.

“Everyone is welcome as we pray and stand in solidarity for Christians around the world being persecuted
for their faith in Jesus Christ,” said the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Philippines in a social media post.

“Where there is violence and terror, ACN aids and materially responds to the call of the mission to
promote ecclesial and spiritual communion between those who suffer for their faith in Jesus Christ, and those who
possess a compassionate and generous heart,” Msgr. Gerardo Santos.

The country’s Catholic parishes and institutions are invited to join the churches around the world in the
annual observance of “Red Wednesday”

We can do this every Red Wednesday:

• masses dedicated to the persecution of Christians,

• lighting the façade institutions with red light
• wearing red,
• the lighting of candles,
• special prayers like Taize,
• and a special collection to assist CAN-Philippines' programs.

It is our way of showing our solidarity with the church and to support those who are persecuted because of
righteousness.
For the Church hopes that we can also share in the mission to spread the TRUTH and His LOVE. And
adhere to His call to be Holy. By perseverance you will secure your lives.

Advent

Liturgical Calendar
 refers to the calendar of the Church’s liturgical celebrations which shows the salvation history brought
about by God to humankind through Jesus Christ.

Liturgical Colors:

Purple- Penance Preparation

Red- Sacrifice
Rose/Pink- Anticipation
Green- Hope, Life, and Growth
White/Gold- Joy and Purity
Green - indicates ORDINARY TIME
Red- indicates celebrations of Martyrs, Palm Sunday, and Pentecost Sunday
White/Gold- indicates Christmas Season and Easter Season, and other solemnity.
Purple- indicates Advent or Lenten Season. Masses for the Dead
Rose/Pink- indicates Gaudete Sunday or 3rd Sunday of Advent

ADVENT
(from, “ad-venire” in Latin or “to come to”)

• is the beginning of the Church Liturgical Calendar.

• is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.

The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at
the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas.

What do we PREPARE?

We prepare ourselves to be worthy for the coming of Jesus.

How do we prepare to be worthy?

• Attending Simbang Gabi

• Forgiving
• Peace
• Sacrament of Holy Confession
• Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast
days.
• Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts
for the full joy of Christmas.

In Liturgy…
 some differences to the Mass that should be observed during the season. For instance, the priest wears
violet or purple during Advent, except for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) when rose may be worn.

Gaudete - (Latin word which Means REJOICE)

• The Catholic Church uses the color rose to indicate a joyful feast day or holiday. Gaudete Sunday’s
counterpart in Lent is Laetare Sunday, another break in penance to rejoice in hope as we approach
Easter.

How Did Simbang Gabi Begin?

Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Christmas tradition.

• It is a series of nine dawn masses on the days leading up to Christmas. It begins on December 16 and ends
at midnight on the 24th of December, when a midnight mass is held.
• This tradition was introduced by the Spanish friars to allow the farmers to hear mass before going to the
fields early in the morning.
• Simbang Gabi is also known by its popular Spanish name, Misa de Gallo, or “Mass of the Rooster.”

Advent Wreath

The wreath itself, which is made of various evergreens, signifies eternal life.
The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of
the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ.

First Candle: (“Prophecy Candle”) (Purple)

• symbolizes hope.
• in memory of the prophets, particularly Isaiah, who prophesied the birth of Christ. It symbolizes the
anticipation felt in awaiting the coming Messiah.

Second Candle: (“Bethlehem Candle”)(Purple)

• symbolizes faith.
• signifies Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

Third Candle: (“Shepherd’s Candle”) (Pink)

• represents joy.
• meant to remind us of the world's joy at the birth of Jesus and that the faithful have arrived at the midpoint
of Advent.

Fourth Candle: (“Angel’s Candle”) (Purple)

• marks the last week of Advent

• signifies peace.
• It reminds us of the angels' message: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men” (Luke 2:14).
• Celebrating Advent is an excellent way to prepare your mind and heart for Christmas.

"Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart in order
to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world."

- Pope Francis