Jessie Taylor
The candle of joy is the third candle of Advent, which is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday. It is also referred to as the Shepherd's Candle, representing the joy felt by the shepherds at the birth of Jesus. The candle is usually pink, symbolising joy and celebration, and marking a shift in the tone of Advent from reflection to joyful anticipation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Week | Third week of Advent |
| Name | Candle of Joy, Shepherd Candle, The Shepherd's Candle |
| Candle Colour | Pink or rose |
| Scripture Readings | Philippians 4:4-7 |
| Theme | Joy, celebration, salvation |
| Symbolises | Joy of Christ's birth, joy of anticipation of Christ's return, joy of salvation, joy of holding baby Jesus |
| Lit on | Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, Rejoice Sunday |
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What You'll Learn
The candle of joy is pink, unlike the other Advent candles
The Advent wreath, a symbol of expectation for the coming of Christ, typically consists of four candles, each representing one of the four weeks of Advent. The first candle represents hope, the second peace, the third joy, and the fourth love. The third candle, also known as the Shepherd's Candle, is pink, unlike the other Advent candles, which are usually purple or violet.
The colour pink is associated with joy and celebration. It signifies a transition in the season of Advent from repentance to a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, known as "Gaudete Sunday", from the Latin word for "rejoice". The scripture readings for the pink candle include passages that emphasise joy and rejoicing, such as Philippians 4:4: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!".
The candle of joy also represents the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival and the salvation he has gifted us. It reminds us of three important aspects of joy relating to Christmas: Jesus brings the joy of salvation, joy leads to proclamation, and joy leads to praise.
It is worth noting that joy is something we associate with spontaneous action. While hope, peace, joy, and love are all attitudes that God places in us, joy tends to have a more spontaneous effect, motivating us to celebrate or worship with abandon. Thus, the pink candle, with its distinct colour, highlights the different nature of joy compared to the other Advent themes.
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It is also known as the Shepherd's Candle
The Candle of Joy, also known as the Shepherd's Candle, is the third candle of Advent. It is usually pink or rose-coloured, differing from the purple or violet of the other Advent candles. This colour variation highlights the different nature of joy compared to the other Advent themes.
The Candle of Joy is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as Gaudete Sunday, meaning 'rejoice' or 'praise'. This candle symbolises the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival and the salvation he brings. It also represents the joy that the shepherds felt when they received the good news about Christ's birth from the angels. This is reflected in the Bible, in Luke 2:8-20, where the shepherds are told:
> "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."
The shepherds' joy was also reflected in their actions, as they ran to Bethlehem to see Jesus. This candle thus serves as a reminder to rejoice in the birth of Jesus and to anticipate his return.
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It symbolises the joy of Christ's birth
The Candle of Joy is the third candle of the Advent wreath, which is lit on the third Sunday of Advent. It is also known as the Shepherd's Candle, symbolising the joy experienced by the shepherds when they received news of Christ's birth. The candle also represents the joy that Jesus brings to the world through his arrival and the salvation he has gifted us.
The Candle of Joy is usually pink, although some churches use violet or purple candles. The colour pink is associated with joy and celebration, in contrast to the colour violet, which is linked to contemplation and fasting. The pink candle is a reminder to rejoice as Christmas approaches, marking a shift in the tone of Advent from penitential reflection to joyful anticipation.
The lighting of the Candle of Joy is accompanied by scripture readings that emphasise joy and rejoicing, such as Philippians 4:4, which says, "Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again, rejoice!". The third Sunday of Advent is also known as "Gaudete Sunday", derived from the Latin word for "rejoice".
The Candle of Joy is one of four or five candles on the Advent wreath, each representing a theme for each week of Advent: hope, peace, joy, love, and sometimes the arrival of Christ. The wreath, typically made of evergreen branches, symbolises the expectation of Christ's coming, with its circular shape representing eternity and the unending cycle of God's love.
The lighting of the Candle of Joy is a reminder to focus on the joy that comes from Christ's birth and salvation, rather than the earthly distractions of the Christmas season. It is a time to worship and praise God and to spread the word about Jesus and his birth.
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It marks a shift in Advent from reflection to celebration
Advent is a period of preparation and anticipation leading up to Christmas, marking the four Sundays before December 25th. The third Sunday of Advent is marked by the lighting of the pink candle, also known as the "Shepherd's Candle", which represents joy. The colour pink is associated with joy and celebration, in contrast to the colour purple, which is associated with contemplation and fasting. The lighting of the pink candle signifies a shift in the tone of Advent from penitential reflection to joyful celebration, inviting believers to rejoice as Christmas draws near.
The candle of joy is also known as the "Candle of Joy" and represents the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival and the salvation he has gifted us. It is a reminder that our joy comes from God and is not dependent on earthly things. The traditional reading for the third Sunday of Advent is from Philippians 4:4, which says, "Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again, rejoice!". This captures the essence of the candle of joy and the shift towards celebration.
The third candle of Advent is a departure from the previous two weeks of purple or violet candles. The pink colour stands out and symbolises the unique nature of joy compared to the other Advent themes of hope, peace, and love. Joy is often associated with spontaneous action and can motivate us to celebrate and worship with abandon. This is reflected in the shift from reflection to celebration during the third week of Advent.
The lighting of the candle of joy is a reminder to find joy in the simplest things during the holiday season. It is a time to share comfort, compassion, and companionship with others, infusing our holiday activities with joy. The candle of joy also represents the joy felt by the shepherds, angels, wise men, and others at the birth of Jesus. It is a time to spread the word about Jesus' birth and to praise and glorify God.
The third Sunday of Advent, also known as "Gaudete Sunday", marks the halfway point of the Advent journey. It is a time to rejoice and anticipate the coming of Christ, reflecting on the faithful anticipation that believers partake in as they ready their hearts and minds for the birth of Jesus. The lighting of the candle of joy signifies the nearness of Christmas and the completion of the Advent season as it transitions into the Christmas celebration.
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It is lit on the third Sunday of Advent
The third candle of the Advent wreath, also known as the "Shepherd's Candle", is lit on the third Sunday of Advent. It is the only pink candle on the wreath, which is otherwise comprised of purple candles. The pink candle is also known as the "Candle of Joy" and represents the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival and the salvation he has gifted us.
The lighting of the pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent, also known as "Gaudete Sunday", marks a shift in the tone of Advent from penitential reflection to joyful anticipation. The colour pink is associated with joy and celebration, in contrast to the colour purple, which is associated with contemplation and fasting. The lighting of the candle invites believers to rejoice as Christmas draws near.
The third candle of Advent symbolises the joy felt at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy we have in anticipation of his return. It also reminds us of three important aspects of joy relating to Christmas: Jesus brings the joy of salvation, joy leads to proclamation, and joy leads to praise.
The traditional reading for the third Sunday of Advent is from Philippians 4:4, which says: "Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again, rejoice!". This encapsulates the joy that marks the faith in God's eternal love and mercy.
The lighting of the Candle of Joy during the third week of Advent is a reminder that joy can be found even during dark times. It encourages believers to focus on the joy that comes from Jesus during the Christmas season, rather than the gifts or other earthly things.
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Frequently asked questions
The Candle of Joy, also known as the Shepherd's Candle, represents the joy that comes through Jesus' arrival and the salvation he has gifted us.
The pink candle is different from the other three Advent candles, which are typically purple or violet. Purple or violet is associated with contemplation and fasting, while pink represents joy and celebration.
The Candle of Joy is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday, which marks the halfway point in the Advent journey.
