The Advent Wreath Tony Cosentino, Renfrew County CDSB Virtue Link: Faith, Hope, Love, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude

The Advent wreath is rich in Christian Green: The Colour of Life and Hope symbolism. It is made of The wreath is made of evergreen boughs. Pink: Joy evergreen boughs formed in a Green is the colour of life. It reminds us of Pink is the colour of joy. The pink candle is circle. The Advent wreath the newborn life of Jesus our Saviour. It used in third Sunday of Advent, holds four candles: three also reminds us of the gift of new and called Joyful Sunday (Gaudete purple and one pink; some wreaths also eternal life we received at baptism. The Sunday in Latin). On this day, have a white candle in the centre. colour green is also the colour of hope. people traditionally relax their Christian hope tells us that we can build a penances and joyfully sing the An Ancient Tradition better world by living the Good News of Gloria at mass as a foretaste of the coming The Advent wreath has its roots in Jesus’ Gospel. Christian hope also tells us joy of the Christmas season. traditions practiced by the early Germanic that nothing can overcome God’s love for peoples. As winter’s short and dark days us in Christ. White: Jesus began growing brighter, they would The white candle at the centre of the celebrate the coming light by making Candles: Light of the World, Faith Advent wreath is lit on Christmas day. wreaths of green and lighting fires. When The candles represent light: Jesus, the The white candle represents Jesus, the pure these people became Christian, they began Light of the world, who shines in our and spotless Lamb of God, born of Mary to using wreaths in their churches, to darkness, and shows us the way lead us to the house of the Father. He is celebrate the coming birth of Jesus, Light of to the Father. The candle also the fullness of our Christmas joy! the World. symbolizes God’s gift of faith. By faith, we say “I trust you” to The Circle: No Beginning or End God; by faith, we know we are God’s The wreath is formed in a circle, which has beloved children; by faith, we walk with no beginning or end. This Jesus as members of his body, the Church. reminds us of our God, who is eternal -without beginning or Purple: Royalty and Penance end. The shape of the Advent There are three purple candles: one for the wreath also represents the gift of eternal first, the second and fourth weeks of life won for us by Jesus’ dying and rising Advent. Purple is the symbol of royalty to new life. and penance. Purple reminds us of Jesus’ coming as Prince of Peace, and King. Our Advent prayer, acts of kindness and self- denial help make our hearts ready to welcome Jesus our Lord, as he comes to us on Christmas Day. The Advent Wreath Tony Cosentino, Renfrew County CDSB Virtue Link: Faith, Hope, Love, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude