Thought of the Day
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12/03/2008
“"Advent" does not mean "expectation" as some may think. It is a translation of the Greek word parousia, which means "presence" or, more accurately, "arrival," i.e. the beginning of a presence. In antiquity the word was a technical term for the presence of a king or ruler and also of the god being worshipped, who bestows his parousia upon his devotees for a time. "Advent", then, means a presence begun, the presence being that of God.
– Pope Benedict XVI, Dogma and Preaching (from the excellent compilation, Benedictus; Day by Day with Pope Benedict XVI)”
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