The Advent wreath, typically a circular garland of evergreen branches, is a symbol of eternity and unending love. Four candles are arranged on the wreath, and one is lit each Sunday in Advent. The first candle of the Advent wreath, the prophecy candle, or candle of hope is purple. The second is called the Bethlehem candle, or the candle of preparation, and it is also purple. The third Advent candle color on the wreath is pink. It is named the shepherd candle or candle of joy. The fourth Advent candle color is purple. It's called the angel candle, or the candle of love.
The principal colors of Advent are packed with rich meaning. Enhance your appreciation of the season as you learn what each color symbolizes.
Purple (or violet or blue) has traditionally been the primary color of Advent. This hue symbolizes repentance and fasting. The spiritual discipline of denying oneself food or some other pleasure is one of the ways Christians show their devotion to God and prepare their hearts for his arrival. Purple-violet is also the liturgical color for the season of Lent, which similarly involves a time of reflection, repentance, self-denial, and spiritual readiness.
Purple is also the color of royalty and the sovereignty of Christ, who is known as the "King of Kings." So, purple in this application demonstrates the anticipation of and reception of the coming King celebrated during Advent.
Pink (or rose) is one of the colors of Advent used during the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday in the Catholic Church. Similarly, rose-pink is used during Lent, on Laetare Sunday, which is also called Mothering Sunday and Refreshment Sunday.
Pink or rose represents joy or rejoicing and reveals a shift in the season of Advent away from repentance and toward celebration.
PRAYER
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way of your only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be worthy to serve you with purified minds. Amen.
In the Advent wreath prayer for the first week of Advent, we asked Christ to come to our aid; this week, we ask Him to move us to action, so that we can prepare ourselves for both His coming at Christmas and His Second Coming. He offers Himself freely, but we must freely accept His offer in order to attain salvation.
