When lighting the Advent Wreath, it
should be lit as a circular journey with the fourth candle at the front
of it- the nearest to Christmas. Therefore the first candle will be on the left side of the advent wreath and the fourth on the right.
In more recent times, some people prefer to add a white candle to represent Christmas. However, although this has some practical merit for our home Advent Wreaths, it is important liturgically not to confuse the liturgical symbols- the Advent wreath is specific and associated with Advent with its 3 purple and one rose color candle,whilst the Crib with Christmas. Should you wish to know more about the history of advent wreath, why not check out my post on it. You will find it under Liturgical Seasons of the Year-Advent
At home, we can use the advent wreath to draw us our families together at the main meal of the day. By lighting the advent wreath candle, it can help us to remember what feast we are truly preparing for- the coming of Christ at Christmas to each of us. It may help the children focus too on the real meaning of Advent and Christmas.We can also use our advent wreath candle ceremony as a way of remembrance of what we are trying to do ourselves to grow spiritually during this advent season.
In more recent times, some people prefer to add a white candle to represent Christmas. However, although this has some practical merit for our home Advent Wreaths, it is important liturgically not to confuse the liturgical symbols- the Advent wreath is specific and associated with Advent with its 3 purple and one rose color candle,whilst the Crib with Christmas. Should you wish to know more about the history of advent wreath, why not check out my post on it. You will find it under Liturgical Seasons of the Year-Advent
At home, we can use the advent wreath to draw us our families together at the main meal of the day. By lighting the advent wreath candle, it can help us to remember what feast we are truly preparing for- the coming of Christ at Christmas to each of us. It may help the children focus too on the real meaning of Advent and Christmas.We can also use our advent wreath candle ceremony as a way of remembrance of what we are trying to do ourselves to grow spiritually during this advent season.
Each night the first purple candle is lit by one member of the household and is left burning during the meal. A prayer, either spontaneous or composed, is recited by another family member whilst the candle is lit. You may use the Opening prayer from the Sunday of the week, or you may prefer to read the theme of the week from the Gospel-
You may decide as a family to have a short discussion during the meal on what this means to each member and how they wish to put it into practice during the week.
eg Week 1: Stay awake-you never know when the Lord is coming''.
You may decide as a family to have a short discussion during the meal on what this means to each member and how they wish to put it into practice during the week.
What I wish to encourage you to do is use the advent wreath as a focus. How you use it for your family, only you know best since all our families are different. However, do not let today go past without making a decision about how your family will use the advent season to grow in holiness and to prepare for the coming of Christ.
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