Catholic Character
Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is part of our long-standing Catholic tradition.
By the Middle Ages, the Christians adapted this tradition and used Advent wreathes as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. After all, Christ is “the Light that came into the world” to dispel the darkness of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (cf. John 3:19-21).
The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a traditional meaning which can be adapted to our faith:
The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering;
pine, holly, and yew, immortality; and cedar, strength and healing.
Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns, and one English legend tells of how the cross was made of holly.
The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ.
Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection.
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent.
A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Saviour.
Three candles are purple and one is rose. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday,
Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass;
Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming to judge the living and the dead.
The light again signifies Christ, the Light of the world.
Some modern day adaptions include a white candle placed in the middle of the wreath, which represents Christ and is lit on Christmas Eve. Another tradition is to replace the three purple and one rose candles with four white candles, which will be lit throughout Christmas season.
Many thanks to all the staff who participated in the various workshops presented by Rory Patterson and Cushla O’Connor from the Catholic Education Office. This refresher was run on Thursday, and the focus was the history of Catholic Education here on the West Coast and the significance of Special Catholic Character in our Kura.
Fr Mat and Fr Tang will be in School on Tuesday for Reconciliation. The Eucharistic Ministry training will resume in Term 1 with Fr Mat.
Kevin Mulcahy and Tony McNish are leading the drive for the collection of dry and canned goods for St Vincent De Paul over the week of school. Please support our local community with your contribution.
The choir under the guidance of Mrs. Jessica McMillan is just superb; we have our final practice on Monday morning at St Patrick’s.
End of year Mass and Prizegiving is 6.30pm on 8th December, St Patrick’s Church.
Meri Kirihimete
Abina
Cultural Xmas Get-Together
7pm Saturday 3 December at Marist Rugby Club Hall
