Advent Wreath
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If you do just one thing this Advent, make and use an Advent Wreath.
It will serve as a simple, but constant reminder to everyone in the house that it is Advent. It can be simply made from a wreath and candle holders that you buy from a craft store. Finding purple and pink candles is a little more difficult. Go to your local Catholic bookstore or order online. You don't even need any complex prayers or services, just light your candles every evening at dinner. A different dinnertime prayer? We switch up our dinner prayer during Advent to make this season stand apart from the rest of the year. Here is a copy of it in a table tent form that you can print out and put on your table. Many, many other prayers and devotions can be found to suit your family. Look at your local Catholic bookstore or online. We often just keep it simple with the longer prayers and devotions just said on Sundays. |
Blessing of the Advent Wreath
from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family. All make the sign of the cross as the leader says: Our help is in the name of the Lord. Response (R/.) Who made heaven and earth. Then the Scripture, Isaiah 9: (lines 1-2 and 5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 & 19) or Isaiah 64 (lines 2-7) is read: Reader: The Word of the Lord. the leader says: Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ: he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us, he is the Savior of every nation. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation. May he come quickly and not delay. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen. The blessing may conclude with a verse from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”: O come, desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of humankind; bid ev’ry sad division cease and be thyself our Prince of peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. —From "Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers" |
