The Season of Advent

Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "coming." Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His arrival. While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of preparation, much like Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting are appropriate during this season. Advent is not as strict as Lent, and there are no rules for fasting, but it is meant to be a period of self-preparation. The purple colour associated with Advent is also the colour of penance. The faithful should try to fast during the first two weeks in particular and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The colour of the Third Sunday of Advent is rose. This colour symbolises joy and represents the happiness we will experience when Jesus comes again. The Third Sunday is a day of anticipatory celebration. It is formerly called "Gaudete" Sunday; gaudete means "rejoice" in Latin. Finally, Sundays during Advent, just as during Lent, should not be given to fasting, but instead to celebration.

Another wonderful item for Advent is the Advent wreath all our Churches should have a wreath in place for the season and so should our homes as it is a blessed way to focus on the meaning of the season, below is a brief outline of the history and meaning of the Advent wreath.


History of the Advent Wreath The Advent wreath is a circular garland of evergreen branches representing eternity. On that wreath, four or five candles are typically arranged. During the season of Advent, one candle on the wreath is lit each Sunday as a part of the Advent services. Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ.


The lighting of an Advent wreath is a custom that began in 16th-century Germany among Lutherans and Catholics. In Western Christianity, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, or the Sunday which falls closest to November 30, and lasts through Christmas Eve, or December 24.


Symbolism of the Advent Wreath Candles​ Set on the branches of the Advent wreath are four candles: three purple candles and one pink candle. A more modern tradition is to place a white candle in the centre of the wreath. As a whole, these candles represent the coming of the light of Christ into the world.

Each week of Advent on Sunday, a particular Advent candle is lit. Catholic tradition states that the four candles, representing the four weeks of Advent, each stand for one thousand years, to total the 4,000 years from the time of Adam and Eve until the birth of the Savior.

Prophecy Candle On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, NIV)

This first candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

Bethlehem Candle On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents love. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's manger:

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12, NIV)

Shepherds Candle On the third Sunday of Advent the pink, or rose-coloured candle is lit. This pink candle is customarily called the "Shepherds Candle," and it represents joy:

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:8–11, NIV)

Angels Candle The fourth and last purple candle, often called the "Angels Candle," represents peace and is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests." (Luke 2:13–14, NIV)

Christ Candle On Christmas Eve, the white centre candle is lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the life of Christ that has come into the world. The colour white represents purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Saviour. Those who receive Christ as Saviour are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow:

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18, NIV)



Below are two very beautiful and poignant pieces of music for the Advent season, the first is the great hymn of anticipation, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel, the second is a wonderful Marian antiphon which is sung in most Monastic Communities during the season of Advent, from First Vespers on the Saturday preceding the First Sunday of Advent until 1st February inclusive. We hope that you will enjoy both these stunning pieces of music.
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