What do the 4 candles of Advent represent in order?

What do the 4 candles of Advent represent in order?

The four Sundays preceding Christmas, which is when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, are recognized for four virtues. The candles on the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy and peace. The candles are lit in that order, beginning today.

How many years does each candle represent on the Advent wreath?

Catholic tradition states that the four candles, representing the four weeks of Advent, each stand for one thousand years, to total the 4,000 years from the time of Adam and Eve until the birth of the Savior.

What is on the paschal candle?

Five grains of incense (most often red), which are embedded in the candle (sometimes encased in wax “nails”) during the Easter Vigil to represent the five wounds of Jesus: the three nails that pierced his hands and feet, the spear thrust into his side, and the thorns that crowned his head.

What is the meaning of the 4th Sunday of Advent?

On the First Sunday (Advent Sunday), they look forward to the Second Coming of Christ. On the Fourth Sunday, the Gospel reading is about the events involving Mary and Joseph that led directly to the birth of Jesus, while the other readings are related to these.

Why is the pink candle lit on the third Sunday?

Liturgical colour Despite the otherwise somber readings of the season of Advent, which has as a secondary theme the need for penitence, the readings on the third Sunday emphasize the joyous anticipation of the Lord’s coming.

What does each Sunday in Advent represent?

During each Sunday of the Advent season, we focus on one of the four virtues Jesus brings us: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace. Others consider the lighting of the first candle to symbolize expectation, while the second symbolizes hope, the third joy and the fourth purity.

What are the names of the Advent candles?

Advent Candle Names

• The Prophecy Candle. The first purple, or violet candle, is the Prophecy Candle symbolizes hope and God’s forgiveness toward man.
• The Bethlehem Candle.
• The Shepherd’s Candle.
• The Angel’s Candle.
• The Christ Candle.

What does the Easter candle represent?

The Paschal candle is the first candle to be lit with a flame from this sacred fire, representing the light of Christ coming into the world. This represents the risen Christ, as a symbol of light (life) dispelling darkness (death).

What is the 3rd Sunday of Advent called?

Gaudete candle
Historically the pink or rose candle is called the Gaudete candle, from the Latin word meaning “rejoice.” The third Sunday of Advent is also known by some Christians as Gaudete Sunday.

What is an Advent wreath and what does it represent?

The Advent wreath, or Advent crown, is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. It is traditionally a Lutheran practice, although it has spread to many other Christian denominations. It is an evergreen wreath with four candles, sometimes with a fifth, white candle in the center. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading, devotional time and prayer

How many candles are on an Advent wreath?

Updated November 13, 2017. The Advent wreath is a popular custom that originated in Germany in the 16th century. It consists of an evergreen wreath and four candles (traditionally, three purple candles and one rose one). The candles are lit every night during Advent—one candle the first week, then an additional candle for each successive week.

What are the names of the candles in the Advent wreath?

Traditionally, there are three violet candles and one rose colored candle. The first candle of the Advent Wreath, the Prophecy Candle or Candle of Hope, is purple. The second, called the Bethlehem Candle or the Candle of Preparation, is also purple. The third candle is lit for Gaudete Sunday . Pink or rose represents joy.

What is the meaning of the four candles in the Advent wreath?

The candles are sometimes added to a wreath to create an Advent wreath. The four candles represent hope, love, joy and peace. In many churches, the candle for joy will be rose or pink while the others are another color like purple or blue.