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jsking1964
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| Joined: | Sat Dec 15th, 2007 |
| Location: | Texas USA |
| Posts: | 58 |
| First Name: | Benedict | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Basically I have been a Christian all my life, and ... |
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Posted: Sat Dec 22nd, 2007 07:17 pm |
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Hi all,
Boy I sure missed you all, but hey it was only a day right? Anyway, my question is this. If you look at the EWTN bug at the bottom right hand, you see two purple candles, a white candle, then another purple candle. I noticed that they light the white candle the week BEFORE Christmas rather than the week of Christmas. It seems to me that the white one would be lit the week of Christmas. Is there a reason for that?
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Your friend in Christ, +
JS Benedict
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemed. Mark 16:16
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Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 282 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
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Posted: Sat Dec 22nd, 2007 07:47 pm |
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HI Jason,
Its actually 3 purple candles and a pink candle.
The four purple candles represent the four Sundays of Advent, as you suspect.
The pink candle is lit for Gaudete {rejoice} Sunday, because we are over half-way to Christmas.
Purple represents penance and Pink joy.
The advent wreath of four candles reminds us of the penitential season of Advent, and the lights of the candles remind us of the coming of the Light of the world, Jesus.
When it comes to the purple penance color, traditionally you were supposed to do some sort of penance before a feast day and then enjoy the happiness of the feast on that day and following the feast day.
Today's material world has us anticipating Christmas with parties and presents. but traditionally you didn't put the tree up til Christmas Eve. Then the throughout the Octave of Christmas, the ensuing eight days, every day is as if it is still Christmas Day. {if you attend daily Mass during the Octave you might be puzzled otherwise about the reference of "this Christmas Day" every day. }
You are also familiar with the Twelve Days of Christmas, which is when the "partying" used to occur - culminating on January 6 - traditionally the old Epiphany. Epiphany is when the Wise Men found and adored the Infant Jesus, as you probably know.
Christmas Eve used to be a fast day - hence in some cultures, some people still observe the fish feast. I think Italians, don't they have a 7 course meal of all kinds of fish? Anything but meat :-)
The better your penance before a feast, the better your chances of getting the graces from that Feast day.
ohhhh. the advent wreath represents a lot. sorry my answer was so long...
EDIT: I mean four candles represent the four Sundays of Advent. oops.
Last edited on Sat Dec 22nd, 2007 09:23 pm by Tina in Ashburn
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Tina
Arlington Diocese
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat Dec 22nd, 2007 08:31 pm |
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Tina in Ashburn wrote: Its actually 3 purple candles and a pink candle.
The four purple candles represent the four Sundays of Advent, as you suspect.
The pink candle is lit for Gaudete {rejoice} Sunday, because we are over half-way to Christmas.
Your response was very good, Tina, but I think you had a typo here.
As you said, there are three purple candles. They represent the penitential nature of the Advent season. On the Third Sunday of Advent we are reminded of the joyful feast to come, and the theme of the prayers and readings is "Rejoice!" which is the first word of the Entrance Antiphon, and so the very first word of the mass. The color rose is the liturgical color of the mass vestments that used to be required and are now optional on the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Lent ("Laetare Sunday"). Few parishes buy rose vestments today. They're quite expensive to be worn only twice a year.
Jason, the resolution on my laptop isn't very good, and the candle at EWTN looks white to me, too. But it is supposed to be pink.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 282 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
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Posted: Sat Dec 22nd, 2007 09:20 pm |
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yup, thanks Rick - i meant THREE purple candles. DOH!
My Navy son called just as I was posting and I didnt' proofread as I usually do.
See Rick, that's why you are paid the big bucks [we WISH].
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Tina
Arlington Diocese
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5353 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Sat Dec 22nd, 2007 09:45 pm |
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Tina in Ashburn wrote: See Rick, that's why you are paid the big bucks [we WISH].
YOU wish!!!!!
Based on the time I spend here, I don't think they could afford me! (Wonder if I get double time on Saturday?)
The interesting thing is that the things I've had to learn here about SQL databases have complimented what I've learned at work, and vice versa.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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Kayla
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | Emmitsburg, Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 369 |
| First Name: | Kayla | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Atheist, kind-of Mormon, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Dec 22nd, 2007 10:41 pm |
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Funny story our priest told in a homily the other day. I guess the day before someone had called him, but he missed all of there calls. They had called his office phone a few times and left messages on his cell phone, saying that they had an emergency and they needed him to them back as soon as possible. So, when he finally got the message, he called them back asking what the emergency was. The person responded,
"Father, I need to know what order to light the advent candles in! Is it purple purple pink purple or is it purple purple purple pink?!"
lol, just thought I'd share that with you. We all found it kind of funny. Hope the person wasn't at Mass that day!
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I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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Br_Carlo
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Tyler, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 150 |
| First Name: | Br_Carlo (Vince Brach) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Episcopalian, CATHOLIC |
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Posted: Sun Dec 23rd, 2007 09:23 am |
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| God's peace. Back when I was an Episcopalian, the rector explained that the four Advent candles stood (in order) for Prophecy, Angels, Bethlehem, and Shepherds. Is this just an Anglican thing, or is there a thread of this tradition in Catholic circles? Blessings, ~Br_Carlo~
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