Dear Doctimus Prime,
As we lit the third candle on the Advent Wreath last Saturday, I remembered I hadn’t told you about this wonderful practice in the Catholic Church that has reshaped my idea on the Advent season for nearly a decade now. I heard about the Advent Wreath for the first time, 8 years ago. And its symbolism is one that every Catholic should appreciate. It is easy to build and a person can have one in the home to remind them of the importance of waiting for the Lord’s coming at Christmas. The wreath is built into a circle with leaves and candles a placed in it. So build the wreath on a hoop supported by a stand.
The circle of the wreath and the evergreens that make it up both signify God’s endless mercy and undying love. Three purple candles and one rose-colored (pink) candle are evenly spaced around the wreath. There is one larger white candle in the center of the wreath. The wreath can be as simple as four candle holders with greenery laid around them to form a circle. However, some traditions attach meanings to using different greens, each signifying another aspect of the season. These include:
Ivy — to remind us of the human spirit clinging to God’s strength.
Cedar — to remind us of eternal life available to all through Christ.
Holly — to remind us of Jesus’ crown of thorns.
Bay — to remind us of victory over sin and death.
Each week, an additional candle is lit. As the light grows brighter, we are reminded that the Light of the World will soon arrive in glory. The central white candle is to be larger (often thicker) than the four in the wreath. This relatively recent addition to the Advent wreath signifies the Light of Christ and is first lit on Christmas Eve and relit burned on Christmas Day. I pray that Advent truly prepares me to welcome Christ into my heart at Christmas.
Yours,
BLOGATRON