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| Zampognari figures at the MET |
The Sunday closest to the Feast of Sant’Andrea Apostolo, on November 30th, marks the beginning of the Western Church’s liturgical year and the penitential season of Advent (Adventus in Latin, which means "coming" and "arrival."). A time of prayer, charity and fasting, the faithful are admonished to worthily prepare ourselves for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ and the second and final coming of our King and Savior.
Popular Southern Italian customs during the season include the making and displaying of ornate presepi (Nativity Scenes) and traditional bagpipe music performed by zampognari and pifferari (pipers and fifers).
In celebration, I’m posting a prayer for Advent. The accompanying photo of lifelike zampognari figures was taken at the 2015 Metropolitan Museum of Art's Annual Angel Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche exhibit.
Advent Prayer
Father in heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find him. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
