“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light.” - Isaiah 9:1
The Jewish people waited with great longing, for thousands of years, the coming of the Messiah. This image of waiting in darkness is one that we can remember as we wait in anticipation for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. We begin with one lit candle the first Sunday of Advent, and add one more each week. In some German-speaking countries, there is a tradition of a Rorate Caeli Mass, which begins before dawn by candlelight and the light slowly gets brighter as the dawn of day approaches. We not only remember the coming of Christ at Christmas, but also await the second coming of Christ at the end of time. (The Latin word adventus comes from the Greek parousia.)
The first record of the use of an Advent wreath comes from Hamburg, Germany in 1838. Johann Hinrich Wichern put a candle for each day of Advent on a wagon wheel, with larger candles for each Sunday. This wheel became covered in greens as the years went on and was eventually adopted for use in churches and homes.
The purple candles remind us that Advent is a time of preparation, of prayer and penance. The pink candle represents joy, for Gaudete Sunday. (In the atrium with the children, we sing this song about the candles of the Advent wreath.)
A delightful tradition observed in Austria is the singing of a particular song, “Wir sagen euch an den lieben Advent" as the Advent candles are lit each week. There are numerous references to light in the song: “Nun tragt eurer Güte hellen Schein weit in die dunkle Welt hinein.” (Now carry your goodness brightly into the dark world.) “Auf, auf, ihr Herzen, werdet Licht.” (Up, up, hearts, be light.) Each verse ends with, “Rejoice, you Christians! Rejoice greatly. Already the Lord is near.”
Because we carry Jesus’ light in our hearts, we can rejoice. We might want to consider this Advent: how am I making room in my heart for this light? Am I allowing Jesus to dispel the darkness, in my own life and in other’s lives?
May you and your family have a very blessed Advent season. Auf, auf, ihr Herzen, werdet Licht!
Many blessings,
Christine Friedrich and the CGS Team