Champion: As the Church journeys through Advent, a season steeped in symbolism and expectation, an ancient liturgical tradition is finding renewed life particularly among younger Catholics seeking depth, silence, and meaning beyond the modern world. The Rorate Caeli Mass, a centuries-old Advent liturgy celebrated before sunrise and illuminated solely by candlelight, is experiencing a quiet resurgence across parishes and shrines.
Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Rorate Caeli Mass is offered in near darkness, with only the soft glow of candles lighting the church. The gradual arrival of natural light at dawn mirrors the spiritual theme at its heart: Christ as the Light of the World entering human history through Mary. The tradition traces its origins to the Middle Ages and takes its name from the opening words of its Introit “Rorate caeli desuper” or “Drop down, you heavens” drawn from the prophecy of Isaiah.
Father Tony Stephens, rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin, describes the Mass as a powerful lesson in faith and patience. As worshippers gather in the candle-lit stillness and daylight slowly filters through the windows, he says, the unfolding scene becomes a living metaphor of spiritual growth. Just as dawn breaks gradually, so too does Christ’s presence illuminate a believer’s life over time.
Father Stephens, who has served as rector of the shrine for two years, was scheduled to celebrate the Rorate Caeli Mass there for the first time on December 13. The shrine holds unique significance as the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States, where the Blessed Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to Adele Brise in 1859.
Reflecting on Advent’s Marian dimension, the priest noted that while the season is often understood as a time of preparation for Christ, Mary’s presence is woven throughout its prayers and readings. Her role in salvation history, he said, makes special Marian liturgies during Advent not only appropriate but deeply meaningful.
The renewed interest in the Rorate Caeli Mass, Father Stephens observed, is part of a broader rediscovery of traditional Catholic worship. He credited Pope Benedict XVI with helping foster this revival by emphasizing continuity within the Church’s liturgical life and encouraging appreciation for its ancient heritage alongside post-Vatican II reforms.
According to Father Stephens, younger Catholics in particular are drawn to traditions that feel rooted, authentic, and sensory. The candle-lit Mass, he said, offers an experience that stands in stark contrast to a world dominated by screens and artificial light. A living flame, unlike digital illumination, consumes itself entirely to give light an image he likened to Christ’s total self-giving on the cross.
This symbolism resonates deeply with young people, he explained, who are increasingly seeking authenticity, sacrifice, and meaning. The flicker of candlelight, the silence of early morning, and the absence of digital distractions create a sacred atmosphere that invites reflection and reverence.
Father Stephens expressed hope that those who attend a Rorate Caeli Mass leave with a renewed sense of longing for Christ’s coming at Christmas. The ancient liturgy, he said, offers a moment of quiet consolation, drawing the faithful closer to the source of all comfort Christ himself and to Mary, who first bore that light into the world.