Today is Gaudete Sunday where we light the rose-colored third candle. I asked the Nodlings on the way to Mass what it stood for.
"Moses!", they instantly replied.
"And why does it stand for Moses?", I asked.
"Because Moses built the Ark!", exclaimed Nod-girl.
"Wha-? Wrong ark", says I.
4 comments:
I'll bite. I don't get it.
Noah built the ark last time I read through Genesis.
Well yes but what does that have to do with gaudete Sunday?
History of the Advent Wreath by Fr. William Saunders:
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior. Three candles are purple and one is rose. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas.
To answer the question more specifically, Kardinal, the symbolism of the advent wreath has been re-interpreted to mean many things. (Not necessarily official liturgical symbolism.)
The candles represent 4,000 years of waiting. So they could also represent various patriarchs (e.g., Adam, Abraham, Moses, David -- or some such). At about 1250 B.C., (roughly the 3,000 year mark) Moses came and brought God's Law in the form of the 10 Commandments. This symbolizes that there is "more light" or at least "less darkness" than before, hence the pink candle.
This is what the Nodlings were referring to when Nod-girl made her funny comment.
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