By Shaun McAfee, Catholic Exchange Dec 9, 2025
Shaun McAfee was raised Protestant but at 24, he experienced a profound conversion to the Catholic Church with the writings of James Cardinal Gibbons and modern apologists. …
Advent is often described simply as the season leading to Christmas—a time of wreaths, candles, carols, and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity. Yet the Church teaches that Advent is far richer than a countdown to a historical event. It is a time to contemplate the multiple “comings” of Christ, to attune our hearts to His presence, and to grow in the patient expectation that has characterized God’s people for millennia.
Catholic tradition speaks of three comings of Christ, each uniquely profound:
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His first coming in Bethlehem.
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His final coming in glory at the end of time.
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His hidden coming into our souls through grace.
These three comings are not separate, unrelated events; they are intimately connected, and Advent calls us to enter into all three, not merely as historical or eschatological concepts, but as living realities in our spiritual lives. …
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