Question about the lighting of the Advent Wreath

[CatholicZ09]

I was always under the impression that except for the First Sunday of Advent, the candles on the Advent Wreath are lit either before Mass or immediately before the Collect. Also, no additional rites or prayers are used on the Second and succeeding Sundays of Advent. My pastor has lit the candles immediately after the Prayers of the Faithful and has said the blessing from the First Sunday of Advent for the Second and Third Sundays of Advent. This is trivial, I know, but is this an acceptable way to do this? Are there other forms of lighting the wreath of which I am unaware? Why would he re-bless the Advent Wreath each weekend? I thought about mentioning it to him, but I do not want to make a big deal about it.

 

[pianistclare]

First, It’s a family type devotion. It’s never really been part of the Mass.
Second, they are not re-blessing it. There are various prayers can that can be prayed when the new candle is lit.
Don’t’ stress over it.
There’s a lot of room fro how it can be done.

 

[peter26]

In my parish, the previously lit candles are lit before Mass, and the “new” candle during the Mass. We typically sing a song (“Light the Advent candle one” etc) while this is happening, but the wreath is only blessed the first week.

 

[LoyalViews]

In my parish, the previously lit candles are lit before Mass, and the “new” candle during the Mass. We typically sing a song (“Light the Advent candle one” etc) while this is happening, but the wreath is only blessed the first week.

Is that the one that sounds something like “The Holly and the Ivy”?

We just have it done after the processional OR when our parish priest sends the youngsters in for their Sunday lessons.

 

[peter26]

No, it goes like this

1. Light the Advent candle one
   Now the waiting has begun
   We have started on our way
   Time to think of Christmas day.

Chorus:
Candle, candle burning bright
Shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.

1. Light the Advent candle two
   Think of humble shepherds who
   Filled with wonder at the sight
   Of the child on Christmas night.

1. Light the Advent candle three
   Think of heavenly harmony
   Angels singing “Peace on Earth”
   At the Blessed Savior’s birth.

1. Light the Advent candle four
   Think of Joy forever more
   Christ child in a stable born
   Gift of love that Christmas morn.

1. Light the Christmas candles now
   Sing of Donkey, Sheep and cow
   Birthday candles for the king
   Let the Alleluias ring.

We sing the right verse for the week and the final verse at Christmas.

 

[bobballen_18]

At our parish, we never did any sort of advent wreath blessing. And, our wreath is at the back of the Church instead of the front. Also, our wreath candles are basically the week-long votive candles put in purple/pink-colored cases, so we just light the correct ones before the Saturday evening Mass and so they are continuously lit throughout the week.

I think pianistclare is correct that it’s not really a part of the Mass. I don’t know, I’m sure it’s something that’s ok to “add” as an option or something, but otherwise, and this has been my experience as well, it’s more of a “home devotion” type thing.

 

[LoyalViews]

At our parish, we never did any sort of advent wreath blessing. And, our wreath is at the back of the Church instead of the front. Also, our wreath candles are basically the week-long votive candles put in purple/pink-colored cases, so we just light the correct ones before the Saturday evening Mass and so they are continuously lit throughout the week.

I think pianistclare is correct that it’s not really a part of the Mass. I don’t know, I’m sure it’s something that’s ok to “add” as an option or something, but otherwise, and this has been my experience as well, it’s more of a “home devotion” type thing.

I’ve always thought of it as a devotion that has no place in the Holy Sacrifice, but before or after the actual liturgy begins is perfectly okay.

 

[SMHW]

I was always under the impression that except for the First Sunday of Advent, the candles on the Advent Wreath are lit either before Mass or immediately before the Collect. Also, no additional rites or prayers are used on the Second and succeeding Sundays of Advent. My pastor has lit the candles immediately after the Prayers of the Faithful and has said the blessing from the First Sunday of Advent for the Second and Third Sundays of Advent. This is trivial, I know, but is this an acceptable way to do this? Are there other forms of lighting the wreath of which I am unaware? Why would he re-bless the Advent Wreath each weekend? I thought about mentioning it to him, but I do not want to make a big deal about it.

Our parish has been using the Schiavone Advent Wreath Service (Penitential Rite only other than the first Mass of Advent) for years now. A parishioner family places the current weeks’ candle in the wreath (located near the baptismal pool by the main entrance) and then the cantor (or deacon if he is one who can sing) leads us in the sung penitential rite.

 

[CB_Catholic]

In our parish the Advent candle for the week is lit before the first Mass on Sunday and stays lit for all the Masses–we do not repeat the ritual for all the Masses. I don’t know what they do for the 4pm Sat, Mass-haven’t attended that one during Advent.