The Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath symbolizes the passage of time during the four weeks leading to Christmas. Jay Cormier encourages individuals and families to not just admire their home wreath, but to pray together around the wreath throughout the season. This popular leaflet has been updated in full-color to include revised prayers and Scripture text from the New American Bible, Revised Edition. Three-minute prayer services for each week of Advent, and also for Christmas Eve, are offered to prepare hearts for the coming of Christ.

Jay Cormier, DMin, is adjunct professor of homiletics at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, and lecturer in humanities and communications at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. He facilitates workshops and seminars around the country in homiletics, liturgy, and communications. He serves as deacon at Saint Jude Parish in Londonderry, New Hampshire. He is the author of several books, including The Deacon’s Ministry of the Word; Lord, Hear Our Prayer: The Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses; The Season of Light: Daily Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath; and previous editions of Waiting in Joyful Hope: Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas and Not by Bread Alone: Daily Reflections for Lent, published by Liturgical Press. He is a contributor to Give Us This Day.