Advent Wreath Prayers for Each Week of Advent
The Advent wreath is a circle of evergreens holding four candles, one for each Sunday before Christmas. Three candles are violet, the color of Advent, and one is rose for the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the Church rejoices that the Lord is near. Advent begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, and each week one more candle is lit until all four are burning in the last days before Christmas.
The prayers below are the traditional collects of the four Sundays of Advent from the Roman Missal. Many families pray the collect for the current week each evening at supper as the candles are lit, followed by the short prayer for lighting the candles, an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be. Children can take turns lighting the candles and leading the prayers.
The Prayers
Week 1: First Sunday of Advent (One Violet Candle)
Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy power, and come, that by Thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins, and to be saved by Thy deliverance. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Week 2: Second Sunday of Advent (Two Violet Candles)
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the ways of Thine only begotten Son, that through His advent we may be worthy to serve Thee with purified minds. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Week 3: Gaudete Sunday (Two Violet Candles and the Rose Candle)
Incline Thine ear, O Lord, we beseech Thee, unto our prayers; and by the grace of Thy visitation, enlighten the darkness of our mind. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Week 4: Fourth Sunday of Advent (All Four Candles)
Stir up, O Lord, we pray Thee, Thy power, and come with great might to our aid, that by the help of Thy grace Thy merciful forgiveness may hasten what our sins would impede. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
A Short Prayer for Lighting the Candles
Lord Jesus, Light of the world, as we light this candle, come into our home and into our hearts. Keep us watchful and ready. Make us patient in waiting, gentle with one another, and generous to all in need, and prepare us to welcome You with joy at Christmas. Come, Lord Jesus, and do not delay. Amen.
Advent saints: St. John the Baptist, who prepared the way of the Lord; the Blessed Virgin Mary, who waited for her Son with perfect faith; and St. Joseph, her faithful husband. Advent also brings the feasts of St. Andrew (November 30), St. Nicholas (December 6), and St. Lucy (December 13).
See also: The O Antiphons, Christmas Novena (December 16–24), St. Andrew Christmas Novena, Advent Prayer (Traditional), Prayer to the Immaculate Conception, Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Prayers.
Sources: The four Sunday collects are from The Roman Missal, translated by Edward A. Pace and John J. Wynne, S.J. (New York: The Home Press, 1916), public domain, with capitalization lightly modernized. The candle-lighting prayer is not a traditional text. This is an original prayer written for Daily Catholic Prayers.
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