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 purple candles in particular 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 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.
BLESSING OF THE HOME ADVENT WREATH:
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.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath.
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.
R/. Amen.
The blessing may conclude with a verse from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” O come, desire of nations, bind in one 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. – From Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers
FIRST WEEK – HOPE
Let us pray – Loving God, we thank you for the hope you give us. Help us prepare our hearts for the Lord’s coming by being open to seeing the light of Christ in others. We ask this in the name of the one born in Bethlehem, Jesus our Lord. Light a purple candle and let it burn during evening meals for the first week.
SECOND WEEK – PEACE
Let us pray – Loving God, we thank you for the gift of peace you give us through Jesus. Help us prepare our hearts for the Lord’s coming by working for Christ’s peace to take root in our family. We ask this in the name of the one born in Bethlehem, Jesus our Lord. Light two purple candles and let them burn during the evening meals of the second week.
THIRD WEEK – JOY
Let us pray – Loving God, we thank you for the joy you bring us. Help us prepare our hearts for the Lord’s coming by helping us see that Christ came for every person we meet wherever we go. We ask this in the name of the one born in Bethlehem, Jesus our Lord. Light two purple candles and the rose candle and let them burn during the evening meals of the third week.
FOURTH WEEK – LOVE
Let us pray – Loving God, we thank you for your gift of love – shown to us perfectly in Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us prepare our hearts for the Lord’s coming by loving others as Christ loves us. We ask this in the name of the one born in Bethlehem, Jesus our Lord. Light all four candles and let the burn during the evening meals of the fourth week.