As we begin a new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent, the celebration of and living out of our faith will engage every one of our senses.  We are invited to taste and see, touch and smell, hear and even feel the greatness of the Lord. 

In the celebration of the Mass, we are given the opportunity to eat and drink from the Lord's Table.  In partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are called into a sacred union with Jesus, the Christ. 

In an effort for all of us to experience this moment during the changes of the liturgical seasons and to more faithfully express the changes of the liturgical seasons, we will be changing the type of wine consumed during the different seasons. 

In Advent and in Lent we will use a deep red wine.  In the seasons of Christmas time and of Easter, as well as during our Solemnities, we will use a rich, sweet, white wine.  During Ordinary Time we will be using a semi-sweet, blush wine.  All of these wines are made for liturgical use only. 

In addition to this, we will vary the types of incense used during the liturgies to express the changes in the season or particular event.  Be sure to take note of the subtle differences in the incense used for Advent and then the one used for Christmas. 

As you fully participate in worship throughout this liturgical year, taste and see, smell, touch, and hear the goodness of the Lord!