Why Do We Use an Advent Wreath?
As soon as Advent begins, a simple circle of greenery with four candles appears in many Catholic homes and churches. It’s beautiful, but it’s more than decoration. The Advent wreath is a little “school of the liturgical year” that teaches us, week by week, how to wait for Jesus.
A Circle of Evergreen: God’s Unending Love
The wreath itself is circular, with no beginning and no end. It reminds us of God’s eternity, His never–ending love, and the everlasting life He offers us in Christ. The evergreen branches stay green even in winter, pointing to the life of grace that remains even when the world feels cold or dark.
Every time we see the wreath, we’re reminded: God is faithful, God is constant, and His love does not fade.
The Four Candles: Growing Light in the Darkness
Inserted into the wreath are four candles, one for each Sunday of Advent. Traditionally, three are purple and one is rose.
Purple candles – the color of penance and preparation. Advent has a quiet, penitential character as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
Rose candle – lit on the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), it signals joy in the midst of our waiting. The light is growing, and Christmas is drawing near.
With each passing week, another candle is lit. The light of the wreath grows brighter, reminding us that Christ, the Light of the world, is coming. In a world that often feels dark, the Advent wreath quietly preaches hope.
Many families also place a white “Christ candle” in the center of the wreath and light it on Christmas. The white candle symbolizes Christ Himself—pure, sinless, and the fulfillment of all our waiting.
Why Have an Advent Wreath at Home?
Having an Advent wreath at home helps to:
Bring the liturgical year into family life – not just on Sundays, but every day.
Teach children (and remind adults!) what Advent is really about: preparing for Jesus, not just preparing for presents.
Create a prayer “anchor” – a visible place in the home where the family gathers to pray, even briefly, amidst a busy season.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. A simple wreath with candles—blessed by a priest if possible—is enough. What matters most is that it leads us to prayer.
How to Use Your Advent Wreath
Here’s a simple way families can use the wreath:
Choose a time each day (for example, before dinner or after the family Rosary).
Light the appropriate candle(s) for that week of Advent.
Make the Sign of the Cross, and say a short prayer—thanking God, asking for the grace to prepare well, and inviting Jesus more deeply into your home.
If possible, read a short Scripture verse about the coming of Christ or the Sunday Gospel.
Even a few minutes of prayer each day, in front of the Advent wreath, can gently reorient the whole season toward Christ.
As we light our Advent wreaths this year—both at St. Catherine of Siena and in our homes—let’s ask for the grace to wait well, to pray more, to love more, and to welcome the Christ Child
If you don’t have one yet, Advent wreaths and candle sets can be purchased in our parish bookstore. Even a simple wreath can become a powerful reminder that your home is meant to be a place of prayer.
In a world that moves fast and often forgets God entirely, the Advent wreath slows us down. It gives us a visible, gentle reminder: Make room for Jesus. He is coming.
