Posted on 11/29/2003 8:44:32 AM PST by Salvation
Origon [sic] of advent wreath Question from Joseph Giaime on 11-29-2002: |
I am 71yrs old. I do not remember Advent wreaths being lit in church. When did this tradition begin? |
Answer by Matthew Bunson on 11-30-2002: |
The Advent Wreath is a ring or circle of foliage that holds four candles. One candle is lit each week of the Advent season to symbolize the impending arrival of Christmas and the birth of Christ, the light of the world. It is believed that the custom of the Advent wreath originated in Germany, possibly Bavaria, perhaps in the 18th century. It was adopted throughout other countries of Europe and eventually found its way to the United States. |
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The Advent wreath is part of our long-standing Catholic tradition. However, the actual origins are uncertain. There is evidence of pre-Christian Germanic peoples using wreathes with lit candles during the cold and dark December days as a sign of hope in the future warm and extended-sunlight days of Spring. In Scandinavia during Winter, lighted candles were placed around a wheel, and prayers were offered to the god of light to turn the wheel of the earth back toward the sun to lengthen the days and restore warmth. By the Middle Ages, the Christians adapted this tradition and used Advent wreathes as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. After all, Christ is the Light that came into the world to dispel the darkness of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (cf. John 3:19-21). By 1600, both Catholics and Lutherans had more formal practices surrounding the Advent wreath. The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a traditional meaning which can be adapted to our faith: The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering; pine, holly, and yew, immortality; and cedar, strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns, and one English legend tells of how the cross was made of holly. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of our soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world becoming true man and who was victorious over sin and death through His own passion, death, and resurrection. 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 Lords 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. 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. This article is reprinted with permission from Arlington Catholic Herald. THE AUTHOR Father William Saunders is dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College and pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Sterling, Virginia. The above article is a "Straight Answers" column he wrote for the Arlington Catholic Herald. Father Saunders is also the author of Straight Answers, a book based on 100 of his columns and published by Cathedral Press in Baltimore. Copyright © 2003 Arlington Catholic Herald |
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Weather Bulletin Issued from the National Weather Forecasting Centre Nadi at 3:30pm on Wednesday the 3rd of December 2003
SITUATION: A trough of low pressure just north of Fiji is drifting south. Associated cloud and showers affect most parts of the group.
Forecast to midnight tomorrow for the Fiji group: Generally cloudy. Some showers and thunderstorms about Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Lau and Lomaiviti groups. Elsewhere, occasional showers.
East to southeast winds, fresh and gusty at times. Moderate to rough seas. Outlook for FRIDAY : Some showers about the northern and easter areas. Afternoon showers elsewhere.
For Navua / Suva / Nausori :
Cloudy periods with some showers. A few thunderstorms during afternoon or evening. Outlook for FRIDAY : Some showers.
For Nadi / Lautoka / Ba : Cloudy periods with occasional showers. Outlook for FRIDAY : A few showers.
For Labasa : Some showers and a few thunderstoms. Outlook for FRIDAY : Some showers..
For Savusavu : Some showers and a few thunderstorms. Outlook for FRIDAY : Afternoon showers.
For Rotuma : Moderate easterly winds. Rain, heavy at times with a few squally thunderstorms. Moderate seas.
Outlook for FRIDAY : Rain easing.
Why thank you! That is most gracious of you.
It does seem that I ruffled a few feathers this morning. The fact is DoctorMichael was just about to explain a point I had made in a somewhat overbearing manner. Before he could respond, the thread was yanked. (see below)
For some reason, it seems more RC threads are yanked than Calvinist threads. Perhaps some of your peers are a little thin skinned?
Anyway, the message was clear. Don't mess with Catholics or Muslims, so from now own I will offer benign posts that are of general intrest!
<><
This thread has been pulled. |
Pulled on 12/02/2003 12:00 PM CST by Lead Moderator, reason: Entirely too much religion bashing of Muslims and Catholics that are too wide-reaching. |
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