The December Promoter

Spotlight:

The Advent Wreath

December 2007

What does the Advent Wreath have to do with vocations?   Vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are fostered within the family. Therefore, the parents’ role in teaching their children the importance of prayer and how to live their relationship with God is irreplaceable. Amid the flurry of activities that fill our calendars during the holiday season, the true meaning of Christmas is sometimes overshadowed. However, the tradition of the Advent wreath gives families a meaningful opportunity to come together in prayer to meditate on the miracle of Christmas, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

It is also a great way to introduce family prayer into your daily routine.  As you begin, the wreath is a visual reminder not only to pray, but also as a symbol: The light of the candle represents Christ who is “the Light that came into the world” to dispel the darkness of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (John 3:19-21). Prayer around the advent wreath is a very simple way to prepare for the coming celebration, because it is so flexible.  Simply find a form of prayer that works best for your family.  One that includes Sacred Scripture is nice, because it gives each family member the opportunity to reflect on the Word of God.  You could also include a daily prayer for vocations and offer it each day for the intentions of all those men and women that have given up everything to follow Christ and serve others this Christmas Season, instead of being with their own families.  More vocation intentions can be found on our website Vocation Action Network - Blueprints for Vocational Initiatives.            

Several sources are available to help in the selection of a prayer format, including books such as: 

• Advent and Christian Wisdom from Pope John Paul II
• Advent and Christmas with Fulton Sheen
• The Essential Advent and Christmas Handbook a Redemptorist Pastoral Publication 

Weekly Advent wreath prayers can be found on some parish websites such as St. Charles Borromeo Advent Prayers or check out the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for many prayers and resources for Advent at USCCB-Advent

Following are Scripture passages for reflecting on the Nativity: 

John 1:1-14               Matthew 2:1-12

Luke 1:26-35             Luke 2:1-20

Matthew 1:18-25        John 3:16-17

Galatians 4:4-7          Titus 3:4-7

John 9:5                    Hebrews 1:1-6

Acts 4:12

  Promoting Vocations 101

Responsibility

Through their vocations as mothers and fathers, parents have been given a mission that no one else can fulfill.  They are like an irreplaceable link in a chain forged by God’s wisdom. God is counting on parents to make an impact on the souls entrusted to their care. No one else can reach them in the same way.  

“Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarcely anything can compensate for their failure in it. For it devolves on parents to create a family atmosphere so animated with love and reverence for God and others, that a well-rounded personal and social development might be fostered among the children.”

Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, November 22, 1981. 

The Advent wreath is a tradition that will help promoters with young children to educate and pass on the story of the Nativity and God’s plan of salvation.  Promoters involved in CCD or teaching can have the children make and bring home an Advent wreath accompanied by a recommended family prayer. For those that do not have young children, please take the opportunity offered by the Advent season to share this tradition with a young family.  Advent wreaths can be purchased at a minimal cost and given as a gift to someone in your extended family or to a family you know from your parish.  

“I urge parents to cooperate with catechists by providing a family environment rooted in faith and prayer, so as to guide their children’s whole lives in accordance with the demands of the Christian vocation.  Each particular vocation is, in fact, a great gift of God, which comes into their home.” 

Pope John Paul II World Prayer Day for Vocations 1991