THE BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

 THE CEREMONY FOR ADVENT SUNDAY

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor , The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9: 2 and 6).

 

The Priest then proceeds with the blessing of the Advent Wreath, saying first the following Versicle, at which all make the Sign of the Cross:

 

V. Our help ✠ is in the Name of the Lord.

R.  Who hath made heaven and earth.

 

V. The Lord be with you.

R.  And with thy spirit.

 

Let us pray.

O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth thy blessing ✠ upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive from Thee abundant graces.  Through Christ our Lord.

R.  Amen.

 

The Priest then incenses the Advent Wreath and sprinkles it with holy water.  He then offers  the Advent Wreath Prayer for the First Week of Advent:

 

Let us pray.

Stir up thy power, O Lord, we beseech thee, and come: that by thy protection we may deserve to be delivered from the threatening dangers of our sins and saved by Thy deliverance; who livest and reignest, world without end.

R.  Amen.

 

Then takes place the lighting of first Advent Candle, which should be one of the three purple ones.  By tradition, the youngest child present is given the honor of lighting the first Advent Candle.  The Priest then leads the congregation in the St. Andrews Christmas Novena prayer:

 

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment * in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, * at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.  * In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God, * to hear my prayer and grant my desires, * through the merits of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, * and of his Blessed Mother.  Amen.