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<center>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1647.jpg'> 
Pope Francis Celebrating Mass 
First Sunday of Advent, November 20, 2013 
Scott 1647 (2017)</center>
 
Today marks the beginning of the Season of Advent. It is also the first day of a brand new year on the Roman Catholic Calendar. The date is calculated by being the nearest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th), and in fact this year it falls on November 30. The earliest possible date for the first Sunday of Advent in any year is November 27th, and the latest date is December 3rd. How's that for being a nifty way to set a fiscal year!
 
During Advent, Christians spend time preparing for Jesus Christ at Christmas. As we all know, in modern times, it is also a time of economic frenzy and great merriment. The word Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus, which signifies a coming. When the first Advent season was observed is uncertain. The best information found is that Bishop Perpetuus of Tours (461–490) established a fast before Christmas which began on November 11 (St. Martin’s Day). Later, the Council of Tours (567) mentioned an Advent season.
 
Vatican stamps record many things of Church history, but finding a stamp specifically for Advent was a challenge. At one point, the late Jim Hamilton, who worked extensively on the VPS website as well as with Vatican Notes, was tasked with finding Vatican stamps with some representation or significance relating to the Advent Season. He could not find a specific Advent stamp, but, in a bit of a stretch, found the 350 and 650 Lire values from the 1986 World Day of Peace issue which cite Isiah on the coming of Jesus and the proclamation on Christmas Eve of peace on earth, goodwill to people.
 
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<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/770.jpg'>
<img height='225' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/771.jpg'> 
International Year Of Peace Scott 770 and 771 (1986) </center>
 
Searching the VPS website for something related to Advent, I was able to find Scott #1647. Issued in 2017, this stamp pictures Pope Francis celebrating Mass at the beginning of Advent. According to the UFN bulletin, the stamp is a picture of Pope Francis taken November 30th, 2013, the First Sunday of Advent. According to the text of his homily on November 30, 2013, the Pope stated:
<blockquote>“our human nature is frail and God’s gifts are kept in us as in ‘earthen vessels’ (cf. 2 Cor 4:7)”.
</blockquote>
Something to think about.
 
References: 
<li>J.C.J. Metford, "The Seasons", The Christian Year (1991), page 29 
<li>Britannica.com, <a href=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Advent>Advent</a> 
<li>UFN Bulletin BF01 (2017), <a href=http://vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/2017-2-01-1.jpg>Pontificate Of Pope Francis – 2017</a> 
<li>First Sunday Of Advent, <a href=http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20131130_vespri-universitari-romani.html>Homily Of Pope Francis – Saturday, 30 November 2013</a> 
<li>Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search

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