Advent is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year, which began this past Sunday, December 1st. Advent encompasses the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas. It is a time of preparation for our hearts, our minds, and our homes, for the anniversary of Jesus’ birth. At Corpus Christi, classes celebrate the season by putting up an Advent Wreath and lighting candles each week. Some of us forget what the wreath symbolizes so here is a little breakdown to refresh our memories…
The wreath and its candles symbolize the Christmas season. The wreath itself, made of various evergreens, signifies continuous life. The circular shape of the wreath symbolizes the everlasting love of God with no beginning or end; the green represents eternal life. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. One tradition says that each candle also represents 1,000 years; they total 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of Christ. Three candles are purple and one is pink. Purple, in ancient times, was expensive and was considered the color of royalty and kings.
The first purple candle signifies Hope. The second purple candle stands for Peace. The pink candle, for the third Sunday symbolizes Joy, and the halfway point of Advent. The final purple candle is Love. The beauty and brightness from the glow of all candles is a reminder that Christ’s life was the light for all earth’s people.
As invitations to parties and events come in, holiday cards and messages clogging our mailboxes, and as the to-do list grows longer by the minute, it is important to be intentional about how we spend our time during the short season of Advent. Seek God’s help to prioritize. We delight in the birth of Christ but Jesus Himself does not want our work or celebration to cause anxiety or distress. Blissfully enjoy this time; bake cookies, wrap presents, sit by the fire, or watch Hallmark Christmas movies. Whatever it is that brings you joy during this season, be intentional in enjoying it.
We would like to end our first week of Advent by sharing the Christmas Anticipation Prayer that is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas, beginning on St. Andrew the Apostle’s feast day, November 30th.
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment,
in which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.
In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request]
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and His blessed Mother.
Amen.