During Advent, the Church pays special attention to the struggle between darkness and light. December is one of the cloudiest months of the year, and the gloomy, gray, dreary, overcast skies can dampen our spirits. Moreover, the days keep getting shorter up to the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year when the light is the least and the darkness is the greatest. The heaviness of the darkness can lead to sadness and feeling down in the dumps.
