What is the meaning of the 4 candles in the Advent Wreath?

Answer 1

Each candle represent one of the four Sundays before Easter where Jesus rises. It is kind of like a count-down. The third candle is pinkish because it is the colour to show the anticipation of Easter.

(Advent is Christmas lent is Easter DAH!
1. Candle of Hope -purple

2. Candle of Preparation -purple

3. Candle of Joy -purple

4. Candle of Love -pink

5. Christ Candle (located in the center of the wreath)

Answer 2

The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of Jesus.

One for each week of Advent

There are four candles in an Advent Wreath to represent, remember and celebrate each new week as it arrives, before The Christ Child is born. The four candles are only lit one each week and the others are left in the wreath- unlit- to remind us of the anticipation and joy we are feeling as we wait in Joyful Hope for the Coming of our Savior.

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Advent Wreath. A band or circle of green foliage, surrounding four candles that may be enclosed in glass and are lighted successively in the four weeks of the Advent season. They symbolize the coming celebration of Christmas, when Christ the Light of the World was born in Bethlehem. The wreath originated in Germany, and in some countries there is a special ceremony, with prayers and hymns, associated with the lighting of the candles on the Sundays of Advent.

The candles are purple because Advent is a penitential season, but the third one is rose as the theme of the liturgy that Sunday is of joy.

Answer 3

The Advent wreath is a Christian tradition during the Christmas season. Preceding Christmas Day, a candle in the wreath is lit for each week of the Advent, a total of four.

The first candle means hope, the second candle signifies preparation to receive God. The third candle is the candle of joy and the fourth candle is the candle of love. The fifth candle, usually lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas, signifies Christ.

Answer 4

the candles mean

• waiting,
• expectation
• preparation

Answer 5

Each candle represents one Sunday during Advent.

:)

The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior. Three candles are purple and one is rose. 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.

The light again signifies Christ, the Light of the world. Some modern day adaptions include a white candle placed in the middle of the wreath, which represents Christ and is lit on Christmas Eve. Another tradition is to replace the three purple and one rose candles with four white candles, which will be lit throughout Christmas season.

By the Middle Ages, the Christians adapted this tradition and used Advent wreathes as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas.

In family practice, the Advent wreath is most appropriately lit at dinner time after the blessing of the food. A traditional prayer service using the Advent wreath proceeds as follows: On the First Sunday of Advent, the father of the family blesses the wreath, praying: O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth Thy blessing upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from Thee abundant graces. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." He then continues for each of the days of the first week of Advent, O Lord, stir up Thy might, we beg thee, and come, that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins and saved by Thy deliverance. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." The youngest child then lights one purple candle.

During the second week of Advent, the father prays: O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Thy only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve Thee with pure minds. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." The oldest child then lights the purple candle from the first week plus one more purple candle.

During the third week of Advent, the father prays: O Lord, we beg Thee, incline Thy ear to our prayers and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Thy visitation. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." The mother then lights the two previously lit purple candles plus the rose candle.

Finally, the father prays during the fourth week of Advent, O Lord, stir up Thy power, we pray Thee, and come; and with great might help us, that with the help of Thy grace, Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins impede. Who livest and reignest forever. Amen." The father then lights all of the candles of the wreath.

Since Advent is a time to stir-up our faith in the Lord, the wreath and its prayers provide us a way to augment this special preparation for Christmas. Moreover, this good tradition helps us to remain vigilant in our homes and not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Saunders, Rev. William. "The History of the Advent Wreath." Arlington Catholic Herald.

Answer 6

Most Advent wreaths use three colors - purple, pink, and white. However, some may use blue in place of the purple

• 1st CANDLE - (purple) THE PROPHECY CANDLE or CANDLE OF HOPE - We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. "And again, Isaiah says, 'The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.' May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:12-13)
• 2nd CANDLE - (purple) THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION - God kept his promise of a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem. Preparation means to "get ready". Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD! "As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.' (Luke 3:4-6)
• 3rd CANDLE - (pink) THE SHEPHERD CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF JOY - The angels sang a message of JOY! "…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 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 of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (Luke 2:7-15)
• 4th CANDLE - (purple) THE ANGEL CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF LOVE - The angles announced the good news of a Savior. God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us! "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)
• 5th CANDLE - (white) "CHRIST CANDLE" - The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! His birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29)

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.' In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.' 'How can a man be born when he is old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!' Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.'" (John 3:1-8)

Answer 7

A savior is born giving light and life to entire world

Answer 8