Pastor's Corner, December 7, 2014

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

One of the most cherished traditions in Catholic homes – and one that we keep in Church – is that of the Advent Wreath.

The origins of the Advent Wreath are a bit mysterious but we know that by the Middle Ages Christians were using the wreath as part of their preparation for Christmas. It fundamentally reminds us that Christ – whose first coming we celebrate at Christmas – is the “light of the world” (John 9: 5).

The symbolism of the Advent Wreath is somewhat obvious. The wreath itself is made of evergreen and is circular, symbolic of the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life we receive from Christ. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. The purple candles speak to us of the penitential character of Advent and how we all have to be doing penance in preparation for Christ’s Second Coming to judge the living and the dead. The rose candle, which is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, is a sign of joy. The Church calls that Sunday “Gaudete” (Latin for “rejoice”) because we are getting so close to the great celebration and joy of Jesus’ birth.

I would encourage everyone to have an Advent Wreath in their homes and light each candle as each week progresses. There are prayers that you can say which help us prepare spiritually for Christmas and it can be a wonderful way to teach children about the central mysteries of our faith which surround the birth of Christ.

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker