The Advent Wreath

The Advent Season is the beginning of a new liturgical year for the Church. The Church gives us this liturgical season so that we can prepare our hearts to receive Christ once again, in His coming at Christmas. We are also encourage to reflect upon our lives in anticipation of His second coming, at the end of time. 

One way people mark Advent is through the Advent Wreath. In Churches and chapels, including most homes and offices, we see a beautiful symbolism of Advent in the Advent Wreath.  It is made up of various evergreens in circle, signifying continuous life. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, depicts the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found only in Christ, the eternal Word of the Father.

The four candles in the Advent Wreath refer to the four weeks (or four Sundays) of Advent. According to tradition, each week represents one hundred years, to sum up to the four thousand years from the time of Adam and Eve until the birth of the Savior. Each candles is lit on each Sunday of Advent.  The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord's first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.

Three of the candles are color purple and one is color rose. In particular, the purple candles symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifice, and the good works the faithful undertake at this time in preparation for Christ's birth.

The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, which is also called "Gaudete Sunday", or the Sunday of rejoicing. It is so because the faithful are now at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas Day.

These are the meaning of each of the candles on the Advent Wreath:

First Sunday of Advent - "The Prophet's Candle":  This candle symbolizes hope to remind us that Jesus is coming and in remembrance of the prophets, primarily the Prophet Isaiah who foretold the birth of Christ.

Second Sunday of Advent - "The Bethlehem Candle": This candle symbolizes faith which reminds of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and Christ's birth in a manger in the City of David.

Third Sunday of Advent - "The Shepherd's Candle": This candle symbolizes joy and reminds us of the joy of the fulfillment of the promise of God to send a Savior by the birth of Jesus. 

Fourth Sunday of Advent - "The Angel's Candle": The fourth Sunday of Advent symbolizes Peace with the Angel's Candle reminding us of the message of the angels: "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men."

The Advent Wreath is a beautiful way to enter into reflection alone or with our family. Slowing down during the hectic rush of the season and bringing family together around the Advent Wreath can be a source of peace, grace, and blessings shared with one another throughout time.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!