Message from Father Rick

The Advent season begins today!

Take time to reflect on how you will use the next four weeks to prepare your heart for Christmas.

Blessing of the Advent Wreath

It’s time to bring out and bless the Advent wreath! The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.

Use this prayer to bless your family wreath:  When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family.

All make the sign of the cross as the leader says:

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Response (R/.) Who made heaven and earth.

Then the Scripture,  

Isaiah 9: (lines 1-2 and 5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 & 19) or Isaiah 64  (lines 2-7) is read:

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

R/. Thanks be to God.

With hands joined, the leader says:

Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:

He is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples, He is the wisdom that teaches and guides us, He is the Savior of every nation.

Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.  May He come quickly and not delay.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R/. Amen.

The blessing may conclude with a verse from 

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:

O come, desire of nations,

bind in one the hearts of humankind;

bid ev’ry sad division cease

and be thyself our Prince of peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel 

—From Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers

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