November 26, 2024

December is a very important month in the Catholic Church. It marks the beginning of the liturgical year with Advent, which encompasses the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas.

Advent is taken from the Latin root word “adventus,” which means “coming.” This is especially appropriate because we spend these 24 days preparing our hearts and minds for the anniversary of the Lord’s birthday on Christmas Day.

At Mercy Home, our young people and coworkers are encouraged to contemplate the meaning of Advent with a special Advent wreath and candles set up right outside our cafeteria. The use of a wreath and candles is a longstanding Catholic tradition that was originally adopted by Christians in the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual preparations for Christmas.

The wreath and candles are full of symbolism tied to the Christmas season. The wreath itself, made of various evergreens, signifies continuous life. The circle of the wreath, with no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ.

The candles also have their own special significance. Each of the four candles represents a week of Advent, and one candle is lit each Sunday. Three of the candles are purple because the color violet is a liturgical color that signifies a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice.

The first candle, which is purple, symbolizes hope. It is called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

The second candle, also purple, represents faith and is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

The third candle is pink and symbolizes joy. It is called the “Shepherd’s Candle” and is pink because rose is a liturgical color for joy. The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, and is meant to remind us of the joy the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy that the faithful have reached the midpoint of Advent.

On the fourth week of Advent, we light the final purple candle to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait for the birth of our Savior. This final candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” symbolizes peace. It reminds us of the message of angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

Some Advent wreaths also include a white candle, which is a more recent tradition. The white candle is placed in the middle of the wreath and lit on Christmas Eve. This candle is called the “Christ Candle” and represents the life of Christ. The color white is for purity because Christ is our sinless, pure Savior.

Celebrating Advent is an excellent way to prepare your mind and heart for Christmas. Whether or not you have your own Advent wreath and candles, you can still reflect on the meaning of each candle in the weeks leading up to Christmas and use it as part of your preparation for the holiday. I encourage you to do so!

And from all of us at Mercy Home, we wish you a Blessed and Merry Christmas!