A Baptist friend asked me about the Advent wreath — its
history, meaning, etc.. I think I gave her a pretty good
answer. Perhaps you could provide a little more information. — An "e-mail" reader
The Advent wreath is part of our
long-standing Catholic tradition. However, the actual origins
are uncertain.
There is evidence of pre-Christian Germanic
peoples using wreathes with lit candles during the cold and
dark December days as a sign of hope in the future warm and
extended-sunlight days of Spring. In Scandinavia during
Winter, lighted candles were placed around a wheel, and
prayers were offered to the god of light to turn "the wheel
of the earth" back toward the sun to lengthen the days and
restore warmth. By the Middle Ages, the Christians adapted
this tradition and used Advent wreathes as part of their
spiritual preparation for Christmas. After all, Christ is
"the Light that came into the world" to dispel the darkness
of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (cf. John
3:19-21). By 1600, both Catholics and Lutherans had more
formal practices surrounding the Advent wreath.
The symbolism
of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of
various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these
evergreens have a traditional meaning which can be adapted to
our faith: The laurel signifies victory over persecution and
suffering; pine, holly, and yew, immortality; and cedar,
strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian
symbolism: The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of
thorns, and one English legend tells of how the cross was
made of holly. The circle of the wreath, which has no
beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the
immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in
Christ. Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate
the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All
together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of
our soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through
Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world
becoming true man and who was victorious over sin and death
through His own passion, death, and resurrection.
The four
candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is
that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the
4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior.
Three candles are purple and one is rose. The purple candles
in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory
sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose
candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the
priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is
the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at
the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half
over and they are close to Christmas. 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. The light again signifies Christ, the Light of the
world. Some modern day adaptions include a white candle
placed in the middle of the wreath, which represents Christ
and is lit on Christmas Eve.
Another tradition is to replace
the three purple and one rose candles with four white
candles, which will be lit throughout Christmas season. In
family practice, the Advent wreath is most appropriately lit
at dinner time after the blessing of the food. A traditional
prayer service using the Advent wreath proceeds as follows:
On the First Sunday of Advent, the father of the family
blesses the wreath, praying: "O God, by whose word all things
are sanctified, pour forth Thy blessing upon this wreath, and
grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the
coming of Christ and may receive from Thee abundant graces.
Who livest and reignest forever. Amen."
He then continues for
each of the days of the first week of Advent, "O Lord, stir
up Thy might, we beg thee, and come, that by Thy protection
we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of
our sins and saved by Thy deliverance. Who livest and
reignest forever. Amen." The youngest child then lights one
purple candle.
During the second week of Advent, the father
prays: "O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for
Thy only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made
worthy to serve Thee with pure minds. Who livest and reignest
forever. Amen." The oldest child then lights the purple
candle from the first week plus one more purple candle.
During the third week of Advent, the father prays: "O Lord,
we beg Thee, incline Thy ear to our prayers and enlighten the
darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation. Who
livest and reignest forever. Amen." The mother then lights
the two previously lit purple candles plus the rose candle.
Finally, the father prays during the fourth week of Advent, "O Lord, stir up Thy power, we pray Thee, and come; and with
great might help us, that with the help of Thy grace, Thy
merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede. Who
livest and reignest forever. Amen." The father then lights
all of the candles of the wreath.
Since Advent is a time to
stir-up our faith in the Lord, the wreath and its prayers
provide us a way to augment this special preparation for
Christmas. Moreover, this good tradition helps us to remain
vigilant in our homes and not lose sight of the true meaning
of Christmas.
Just a final note: If you have enjoyed reading
Straight Answers by Father Saunders over the past five
years, a book of the same title will be released in
mid-December. The book will include 100 "straight answers"
about the faith and will be 400 pages in length. Both the
Queen of Apostles Family Gift Shop and the Pauline Book and
Media Center (Daughters of St. Paul) will be offering the
book. Please look for the ad in the Herald for
complete information.
Fr. Saunders is dean of the Notre
Dame Graduate School of Christendom College and pastor of
Queen of Apostles Parish, both in Alexandria.
Straight Answers Soon Available in Book Form A collection of
Father Saunders' "Straight Answers" columns is now available
in book form through the Cathedral Foundation Press. Volume
Two will hit the stands on Dec. 8, 2003. Pre-publication
orders are being accepted by the Daughters of St. Paul, 1025
King St., Alexandria, Va. 22314; or call 703-683-1741.