This Sunday we begin with the season of Advent, the beginning of our liturgical year in the universal Catholic Church. This is the season where we are helped to prepare for Christmas. It lasts about four weeks, beginning four Sundays before Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve. The Church’s Christmas season begins on Christmas Eve and lasts for twelve days. So, Advent is a season of anticipation that leads up to Christmas.

During this time, we observe a period of prayer and reflection — followed by anticipation, hope and joy. This is reflected in our beautiful tradition that we do and that is the Advent wreath. Each Sunday during Advent, we light a candle on the Advent wreath and recite our prayer. Each candle lit represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The circle of branches of the wreath symbolize the eternal cycle of the seasons while the evergreens and lighted candles signify the persistence of life in the midst of winter.

The Advent wreath contains four candles. All of the candles are purple except the third (which is rose). The symbolic meanings of the candles can vary but they are often referred to as the following:

Hope — expectation of what is to come and sometimes prophecy
Love — sometimes called the Bethlehem Candle
Joy — this rose candle is often called Mary’s Candle
Peace — it can often be called the Angel’s Candle

The color of Advent is purple. You’ll see purple used quite often in banners around the church or in the vestments of the clergy.

Purple is used at Advent as it is at Lent to represent the penitential nature of the season. In fact, Advent used to be known as “little Lent.” The color is a symbolic reminder for us to be preparing ourselves for the coming of our Lord.

The third Sunday during Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete means “rejoice.” On that Sunday, you will see the priest wearing rose vestments. This color is meant to remind us that Christmas is drawing near.

So Advent helps us to prepare for a meaningful and blessed Christmas. May we use the four Sundays of Advent as a time to pray and reflect in anticipation of the coming of our Lord and the start of the Christmas Season.