An Advent meditation for the first day of December, from Dom Guéranger’s “The Liturgical Year”.The meditation for December 1 invites the reader to begin Advent by contemplating the long preparation for Christ’s coming, symbolized by the four thousand years of expectation represented in the season’s four weeks. It reflects on the faith, yearning, and perseverance of the patriarchs, prophets, and righteous of the Old Testament, from Adam to John the Baptist, who handed down the promise of the Messiah yet did not live to see it fulfilled. Their steadfast hope, offered often in the face of suffering and death, is held up as a model for Christians, who are called to honor them, imitate their longing for salvation, and thank God for having brought us into the light of redemption without requiring us to pass through their long night of waiting. The meditation urges the faithful to join these ancient saints in praying for the Savior’s coming and to seek their intercession so that our own preparation for Christ’s birth in our hearts may be fruitful.Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasizing the unity of faith through the axiom lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer is the law of belief"), and remains a cherished resource for Catholics seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. Dom Prosper Guéranger (1805–1875) was a French Benedictine monk, liturgical scholar, and founder of the Solesmes Abbey, renowned for his pivotal role in reviving the Benedictine Order in France and restoring the Roman liturgy after the disruptions of the French Revolution. Born in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, he entered the priesthood in 1827 and, inspired by a vision to restore monastic life, reestablished the Benedictine community at Solesmes in 1833, becoming its first abbot. A staunch defender of ultramontanism and traditional Catholic worship, he also championed the revival of Gregorian chant, significantly influencing the liturgical renewal movement.Please note: The entries of the Liturgical Year are primarily authored by Dom Prosper Guéranger, but occasionally contain editors’ additions of subsequent information and events that are relevant to the given feast.Link to the Dom Guéranger's Liturgical Year playlist (updated daily, unless a Ferial day): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKdyYnV_bkh7rH6piW0ShgsdcefFoOvJ