Traditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent. Ideally, three candles are purple, and one is rose, but white candles can also be used. 

The circular wreath represents God’s infinite love for us, for just as a circle has no end, neither does God’s love end.  The evergreen of the traditional Advent wreath also symbolizes the “the hope of eternal life brought by Jesus Christ” just as evergreens bring hope during the bleakest parts of winter reminding us that life still exists and spring will come again. 

The purple candles 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 flames of the candles represent Christ’s light in Darkness and the warmth of the flame reminds of the warmth of Christ’s love.   If your Advent wreath includes a white candle in the canter, this is to symbolize the arrival of Christmastide, which is known as the ‘Christ candle’.  It is lit for the first time on Christmas Eve after the Christmas Eve Mass has been celebrated, and may be lit throughout the rest of the Christmas season.

Each week as we light the candles, we pray for joy, peace, hope, and love, which is why you may sometimes see the individual candles called the “hope candle”, the “joy candle”, etc..  There are prayers and scriptures that are suggested to be read each week as the candles are lit.  These prayers can be prayed daily, but we do encourage you to pray them at least at the start of each new week of Advent (on each Sunday).  An additional layers of meaning name the first candle as the Messiah or Prophecy candle (representing the prophets who predicted the coming of Jesus), the second is the Bethlehem candle (representing the journey of Joseph and Mary), the third represents the shepherds and their joy, and the fourth is the Angel’s candle, representing peace.

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 blessing of the Advent wreath is meant to accompany the start of the Advent Season.  There are many variations of the Advent wreath ceremony and many different published prayers and devotions.  We encourage you to pray the Blessing of the Advent Wreath each year on the first Sunday of Advent, and then continue with the prayers at the start each week during the lighting of Advent candles.

Quick Reference Guide of the Symbolism of the Advent Wreath:

Circle:  God’s infinite love for us that has no end

Evergreen:  The hope of eternal life brought by Jesus Christ

Four Candles:  Four weeks of Advent; hope, love, joy, peace; Messiah/Prophecy Candle (prophets who predicted the coming Messiah), Bethlehem Candle (journey of Joseph and Mary), Shepherds Candle (joy), Angel Candle (peace) 

Purple Candles:  Prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods undertaken during Advent

Rose Candle:  Sunday of rejoicing; mid-point of Advent, heightens anticipation being so close to Christmas

White Candle (optional): Christ’s birth (only lit after Mass on Christmas Eve and throughout Christmas season)

Flames of the Candles: Christ’s light in Darkness

Warmth of the Flame:  The warmth of Christ’s love. 

Progressive Lighting of the Candles:  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. 

Leader:  Our help is in the name of the Lord
All:  Who has made heaven and earth.

Leader:  Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing.
As they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgement and justice,
both now and forever.

Leader:  The Word of the Lord
All:  Thanks be to God

All participating join hands

Leader: Let us pray: 

Lord our God,
We praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
He is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
He is the Savior of every nation.

O God, by whose word all things are made holy,
pour forth your blessings upon this wreath,
and grant that we who use it
may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All:  Amen.

The blessing may conclude with a verse from “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”:

O come, desire of nations, bind
in on the hearts of humankind;
bid ev’ry sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice!  Rejoice!, Emmanuel 
shall come to thee, O Israel. 

Leader:  The Lord is our faith and our life.
All:  May the Lord’s peace be with us all.
Leader:  And his love shine in our hearts.
All:  Our hope is in the coming of the Lord.

One purple candle is lit (traditionally by the youngest child; however, you may want all of your children to share in this activity).  During the rest of the week, this candle is relit at the evening meal or whenever the family gathers for together for Advent devotions/prayers.

Leader:  Let us pray that our faith may be strengthened for the coming of the Lord.

Pause for silent prayer

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word.  Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in our faith so that the day of his coming may find us prepared and filled with joy.

All:  Amen.

Suggested Readings:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Luke 1:26-38
Isaiah 7:10-14
Matthew 1:18-24

Leader:  May the Lord’s peace be with us all.
All:  The Lord is our faith and our life.
Leader:  May his love shine in our hearts.
All:  Our hope is in the coming of the Lord.

Two purple candles are lit and allowed to burn as before. 

Leader:  Let us pray that we may experience fully the peace of Christ

Pause for silent prayer

Father in heaven, the day draws near when the birth of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world.  May his quiet coming fill us with true inner peace.

All:  Amen.

Suggested Readings:
Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11
Isaiah 2:1-5
Matthew 3:1-6

Leader:  May the Lord’s love shine in our hearts.
All:  And may his peace be with us all.
Leader:  The Lord is our faith and our life.
All:  Our hope is in the coming of the Lord.

Two purple candles are lit and rose-colored candle are lit by the mother and allowed to burn as before. 

Leader:  Let us pray that we may grow in love for each other as the Lord comes to us.

Pause for silent prayer

Father in heaven, may we your family who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of your love and celebrate his birth with a new sense of love for each other. 

All:  Amen.

Suggested Readings:
Isaiah 9:6-7
John 1:19-34
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Philippians 2:1-11

Leader:  Our hope is in the coming of the Lord. 
All:  May his love shine in our hearts. 
Leader:  And may the Lord’s peace be with us all.
All:  The Lord is our hope and our life.

All four candles are lit by the father and allowed to burn as before.

Leader:  Let us pray that the newborn Savior will bring us his love which lasts forever.

Pause for silent prayer

Father in heaven, our minds and hearts are filled with hope. We long to hear the voice which tells us of the coming of the Christ Child.

All:  Amen.

Suggested Readings:
Malachi 3:1-5
Romans 8:18-25
Isaiah 52:7-10
Revelations 21:1-4