Advent Wreath Prayers and Scripture Readings: Lighting of the Advent Wreath

The Advent Wreath is a tradition of Advent, the Christian season immediately preceding Christmas. The Advent Wreath, which includes prayers and Bible readings associated with Advent, is a popular tradition among Catholics and Protestants alike. It is often used in homes and in churches.

Advent Wreath History, Information, and Instructions

The Advent wreath was likely first used in the Middle Ages. The design was borrowed from the customs of pre-Christian (primarily Germanic and Scandinavian) peoples, who used candles and greenery as symbols during the dark and dead winter, often paired together representing light and life. The Advent Wreath is a circular evergreen wreath with four or five candles, three purple, one rose, and (if you use the five-candle model), one white one for Christmas Day. If used, the white candle is placed in the center. Some Protestant traditions have been using 4 blue candles recently. However, Catholics still use the traditional colors because they dually symbolize both royalty and penitence, two important Advent themes. A wreath may be hand-crafted of real or artificial materials, or may be purchased at craft and candle stores. The candles symbolize the light of Christ coming into the world. The evergreen symbolizes renewal in Christ, the kind of renewal hoped for by those before Christ's first coming, and the ultimate renewal we long for in Christ's second coming. The circular shape symbolizes the completeness of God. It is likely the symbolism came after the actual wreath was conceived of, but that does not detract from the power of the symbols.

The candle colors are derived from the traditional liturgical colors of Advent and Christmas, purple and white respectively. The rose color likely is derived from an old Catholic custom of wearing rose colored vestments on the third Sunday in Advent (and fourth Sunday in Lent), called Gaudete Sunday, i.e. "Rejoice" Sunday. Each candle is first lit on the appropriate Sunday of Advent, and then the candles may be lit each day as a part of the individual or family's daily prayers. Certain candles have been given various names. Some systems name the candle thusly:
1. Hope (purple)
2. Peace (purple)
3. Joy (rose; the corresponding Sunday is "Gaudete Sunday")
4. Love (purple)
5. Christ (white)
Others do it like this:
1. Patriarchs
2. Prophets
3. John the Baptist
4. Mary the mother of Jesus.
5. Christ the light of the world

Either way can be helpful for celebrating the true meaning of Advent. If you do not wish to use either taxonomy, simply praying the prayers we have listed below as you light the candles, and then reflecting on the scriptures is the best way to proceed. Since the Advent Wreath is a devotion, there are a variety of ways to make use of it, and we encourage you to develop your own customs and prayers if you wish, based in Scripture and Church Tradition. The service we provide below is a good guide to get you started, and can be expanded upon. You may choose to light the wreath only on Sundays, however some families light the wreath daily to more fully celebrate Advent. Many Catholics and non-Catholics like to get their wreaths blessed by a priest before using them. A blessing formula has been included here as well. Please feel free to use the guide below as you incorporate the Advent wreath into your Advent prayer life. To learn more about Advent itself, please see our All About Advent! page.

Blessing of the Wreath

Directions
Laypeople may use the first blessing Formula
A priest may bless using the second formula.

Blessing for the Advent Wreath (by laypeople):
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.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Blessing of the Advent Wreath (by priests)
Priest: Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe.
You sent your Son to be the Light of the world
and to spread his light of love to all.
Bless us and accept + these wreaths of light made from our hands.
May their ever increasing brightness be a sign to us
of the approaching nearness of your Son,
that we might prepare in joy for his humble birth in a manger
and be ready to receive him at his coming again in glory;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

(From Celebrating Advent and Christmas: A Sourcebook for Families.)
© 2001 by Women for Faith and Family, http://wf-f.org

First Sunday and Week of Advent

Prayer:
Stir up thy power, O Lord, and come,
that by thy protection we may be rescued
from the dangers that beset us through our sins;
and be a Redeemer to deliver us;
Who livest and reignest with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Alternate/Complementary Prayer:
O Emmanuel, Jesus Christ,
desire of every nation,
Savior of all peoples,
come and dwell among us.
(From Christmas Prayers, Victor Hoagland, C.P.)

Second Sunday and Week of Advent

Directions
Light the 1st purple candle (repeat first week's prayer)
Light the 2nd purple candle

Prayer:
Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to prepare the paths of thine Only-begotten Son:
that we may worthily serve thee
with hearts purified by His coming:
Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Alternate/Complementary Prayer:
O King of all nations, Jesus Christ,
only joy of every heart,
come and save your people.
(From Christmas Prayers, Victor Hoagland, C.P.)

Third Sunday and Week of Advent

Directions
Light the 1st purple candle (repeat 1st week's prayer)
Light the 2nd purple candle (repeat 2nd week's prayer)
Light the rose candle

Prayer:
We beseech thee to listen to our prayers, O Lord,
and by the grace of thy coming enlighten our darkened minds:
Thou who livest and reignest with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Alternate/Complementary Prayer:
O Key of David, Jesus Christ,
the gates of heaven open at your command,
come and show us the way to salvation.
(From Christmas Prayers, Victor Hoagland, C.P.)

Fourth Sunday and Week of Advent

Directions
Light the 1st purple candle (repeat 1st week's prayer)
Light the 2nd purple candle (repeat 2nd week's prayer)
Light the rose candle (repeat 3rd week's prayer)
Light the 4th purple candle

Prayer:
Pour forth thy power, O Lord, and come:
Assist us by that mighty power,
so that by thy grace and merciful kindness
we may swiftly receive the salvation that our sins impede:
Who livest and reignest with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Alternate/Complementary Prayer:
O Wisdom, holy Word of God, Jesus Christ,
all things are in your hands,
come and show us the way to salvation.
(From Christmas Prayers, Victor Hoagland, C.P.)

Christmas Day and Christmastide

Directions for 5-Candle Wreaths
Light 4 preceding candles (repeat each week's prayer while lighting them)
Light the center white candle

Directions for 4-Candle Wreaths
Replace all Advent Candles with White Candles and Light

Prayer:
God of love, Father of all,
the darkness that covered the earth
has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh.
Make us a people of this light.
Make us faithful to your Word
that we may bring your life to the waiting world.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co.)

Alternate/Complementary Prayer:
Let the just rejoice,
for their justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
For their saviour is born.
Let the captives rejoice,
For their Redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.
Let free men rejoice,
For their Liberator is born.
Let All Christians rejoice,
For Jesus Christ is born.
St. Augustine of Hippo

Advent Wreath Prayers and Scripture Readings:
Lighting of the Advent Wreath

Advent Wreath History, Information, and Instructions

Blessing of the Wreath

First Sunday and Week of Advent

Second Sunday and Week of Advent

Third Sunday and Week of Advent

Fourth Sunday and Week of Advent

Christmas Day and Christmastide

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