Hope, Peace, Joy & Love

"It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope."

- Pope Benedict XVI

WHAT IS ADVENT?

By Anne-Louise DePalo

This year, Advent is from December 1 through December 24. It is a time of prayer, penance, sacrifice, and spiritual reflection on the Incarnation of Christ, whom we encounter daily, the hope of eternal life, and the second coming of Christ.

Advent comes from the Latin word meaning coming or arrival. Each week, a candle is lit, representing the virtues that Jesus brought us. The candle brings the light of Christ into the darkness of the world and winter.

The first candle symbolizes the virtue of hope and is called the prophecy candle. The second candle for the second week of Advent is the Bethlehem candle, representing peace. The third candle is the shepherd's candle and represents joy, and the fourth candle is the angel's candle and represents love.

In the first week, we focus on hope and the coming of Christ. In the second week, the readings focus on the preaching of John the Baptist. The third week focuses on joy associated with the coming of the Savior, and the fourth Sunday focuses on the events leading up to the birth of Jesus.

The Advent wreath is part of the spiritual preparation for Advent and may be used for prayer and reflection. It is a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. The wreath is in the shape of a circle with four candles. The circle is symbolic of no beginning and no end and represents the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ. The wreath itself is made up of evergreen, signifying continuous life. Within the wreath itself, there are laurels, which signify the victory over persecution and suffering; pine holly and yew, which signifies immortality; cedar signifies strength and healing; and pinecones, which the wreath is decorated with, symbolizes life and resurrection.

Each Sunday, a candle for the week is lit at Mass, and if you have an Advent wreath at home, you may light each candle on a Sunday and further reflect on the virtues that the Church asks us to consider and develop.

As the first week is Hope, the readings ask us to spend some time reflecting on the hope of Christ's coming and God's promise of redemption.

The second Sunday is Peace. Embrace the Peace that Christ brings into the world and seek peace within yourselves and your relationships.

The third week is Joy. Rejoice in the anticipation of Jesus' arrival.

The fourth week is Love, the sum and summit of our Catholic Faith. Remember God's love for humanity in sending his only Son to suffer and die for us and how we are to reflect that love to others.

The Advent wreath is a beautiful way to celebrate Advent and will help you keep your focus on what Advent and Christmas are about. Advent is an opportunity to be able to spend time in prayer and self-reflection. Do not miss out on the graces and love we can receive and give during this time.

In the upcoming reflections, I will focus on each virtue and how the readings reflect on their meaning and importance in our spiritual pilgrimage through Advent and until the end of our lives.