By Philip Kosloski, Aleteia - In the weeks before Christmas many Christians around the world celebrate a season of preparation called “Advent.” However, few know what this word actually means... The word “Advent” stems from the Latin word adventus, which literally means “coming” or “arrival.” In context, this commonly refers to the coming of Jesus on Christmas day... St. Jerome, when composing the Latin Vulgate, also used adventus when translating the Greek word parousia. This word has a similar meaning, but in a broader context refers to Jesus’ second coming at the end of time.