Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") 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 the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas and to his second coming at the end of time. During Advent we also notice more fully how Christ is present to us now, in the celebration of the Mass and sacraments and in our daily lives.