| The candles that make up the advent wreath hold a | | | | darkness. Another way to put this would be a light in |
| special symbolism. In their color, their composition and | | | | darkness. |
| just the sheer act of lighting the candle of advent | | | | The second week of Advents Candle, Purple in color, |
| wreath breaths a air of hope into each of the nights | | | | is called the Bethlehem Candle. This candles got its |
| that make up the season of Advent. | | | | name because of the period of preparation for the |
| Advent starts by counting backwards the four | | | | coming of Jesus. Thematically preparation is the key. |
| Sundays. This also is the beginning of the new liturgical | | | | Just as John the Baptist prepared a way for Jesus, |
| calendar year for the church. The feast of Christ the | | | | Mary Joseph also had a place prepared for them by |
| King is the official start and usually runs as the Sunday | | | | God in Bethlehem so that the birth of Jesus was a |
| of Thanksgiving weekend. As the church shifts into the | | | | fulfillment of the scripture that was previously |
| season of Advent the colors of the church change | | | | prophesized, tying the event to actually the first |
| and begin to reflect the season as does the tone and | | | | Advent Candle lit. The prophecy of Bethlehems |
| tenor as the church moves out of Ordinary Time and | | | | involvement in the birth of Jesus was prophesized in |
| into a New Year. | | | | Micah 5:2-5, which names Bethlehem by name. |
| The color purple becomes the overwhelming color and | | | | The third week of advent has the Shepherds Candle. |
| in the church the color purple is the color of | | | | This candle deviates from the 2 previous purple this |
| repentance. And Advent as a season is a penitential | | | | one is rose colored to represent the joy of being half |
| season. But despite the reflection of Advent and its | | | | the way though the Advent Season. This candle |
| penitential nature, it also is a time to look forward to | | | | received its name because of the Shepherds who |
| the coming of Christ. This included the coming of the | | | | came to find the tiny King and received great joy in |
| infant Jesus as well as our wait for Jesus to return. | | | | coming to the Lord. Just as in present times when we |
| The first week of Advent the candles is named the | | | | find the Lord. |
| Prophecy Candle. The first week of Advent focuses | | | | The final weeks of advent has the Angels Candle |
| on the prophecies of the Old Testament that speaks | | | | lighting the way. The Angel candle got its name |
| of the Savior, Jesus. The Old Testament lays out our | | | | because of because it was of course the angels that |
| salvations The events of His Coming are Prophesized | | | | announced the birth of Christ. This candle also serves |
| in Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6 and Micah 5:2-5. Symbolically the | | | | to remind us of Gods infinite love. And the gift of his |
| lighting of the first candle reminds us that there is light in | | | | only Son that he gave us. |
| the world after the sin of Adam plunged the world into | | | | |