Advent Wreath Prayers for Each Week: Catholic Family Guide

These Advent wreath prayers are for Catholic families, classrooms and parish groups. There is a blessing for the wreath on the First Sunday of Advent, a short prayer to light the candles for each of the four weeks, the Church’s traditional Advent collects, a suggested Scripture reading for each week, and a simple version for young children. In 2026 the four Sundays of Advent are November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20.

How to use them: gather at the wreath once a day, often before the evening meal. Light the candles for the current week, read the short Scripture passage, pray the prayer, and finish with a verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

Blessing of the Advent wreath

A priest or deacon can bless your wreath at church, and many parishes bless wreaths after Mass on the First Sunday of Advent. At home, the head of the household or another family member leads this blessing. (Lay people do not make the Sign of the Cross over the wreath; they ask God’s blessing on it.)

Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.

Leader: Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the light of the world.
Send your blessing upon us as we gather around this wreath.
May its circle remind us of your love that has no end, its green branches of the life you give, and its candles of the light that grows as we wait for the coming of Christ.
Make us watchful in prayer, generous to those in need, and joyful in hope, so that when he comes he may find us ready.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

Week 1: Hope (First Sunday, November 29)

Light: one purple candle. Read: Mark 13:33–37 (“Watch ye therefore”).

Lord Jesus, you told your disciples to stay awake and watch.
As we light this first candle, wake us from the sleep of distraction and sin.
Fill our home with hope, and make us ready to welcome you, at Christmas and at the end of time.
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Traditional collect of the First Sunday of Advent:

Stir up thy might, we beseech thee, O Lord, and come:
that by thy protection we may deserve to be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins,
and saved by thy deliverance. Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Week 2: Peace (Second Sunday, December 6)

Light: two purple candles. Read: Mark 1:1–8 (John the Baptist: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord”).

Lord God, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for your Son.
As we light these two candles, show us the mountains of pride and the valleys of neglect in our hearts.
Make straight the paths between us and the people we find hard to love, and give our family and our world your peace.
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Traditional collect of the Second Sunday of Advent:

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of thine only-begotten Son:
that through his coming we may be able to serve thee with purified minds.
Who liveth and reigneth with thee for ever and ever. Amen.

Week 3: Joy (Gaudete Sunday, December 13)

Light: two purple candles and the pink candle. Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 (“Always rejoice”).

Lord Jesus, today we light the rose candle because you are near.
Give us the joy that does not depend on what we have, but on whom we wait for.
Help us to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Traditional collect of the Third Sunday of Advent:

Incline thine ear, we beseech thee, O Lord, to our prayers:
and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of thy visitation.
Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Week 4: Love (Fourth Sunday, December 20)

Light: all four candles. Read: Luke 1:26–38 (the Annunciation).

Holy Mary, you said yes to God, and the Word became flesh in your womb.
As we light all four candles, help us to say yes to God’s will in our own lives.
Lord Jesus, born of Mary, fill our hearts with your love, so that there may be room for you this Christmas.
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Traditional collect of the Fourth Sunday of Advent:

Stir up thy might, we beseech thee, O Lord, and come:
and with great power succour us, that by the help of thy grace,
that which is hindered by our sins may be hastened by thy merciful forgiveness.
Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Christmas: lighting the Christ candle

On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, light all four candles and the white Christ candle in the center.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
Lord Jesus, light of the world, you have come.
Be born in our hearts and in our home, and stay with us always. Amen.
Sing or pray “Silent Night” or “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”

Short prayers for weekdays

Use one of these on the days between the Sundays:

Come, Lord Jesus, and do not delay.
Lord, make us watchful and ready for your coming.
O Wisdom, O Key of David, O Dayspring, O Emmanuel, come and save us. (Especially December 17–23, the days of the O Antiphons.)
Mary, Mother of the Lord, help us to prepare a place for your Son.

Advent wreath prayer for children

Dear Jesus, we light our candle to get ready for your birthday.
Help us to be kind, to share, and to say sorry when we do wrong.
We can’t wait to celebrate you at Christmas! Amen.

Let children take turns lighting (with help) or snuffing the candles. A snuffer is safer than blowing them out, and children love it.

Tips for praying around the wreath

Keep it short. Five minutes every evening is better than half an hour once a week.
Turn off the lights before lighting the candles so the growing light is visible.
Give everyone a role: a reader, a candle-lighter, someone to lead the response.
Add the Prayers of the Faithful. On Sundays, read one or two intentions from the Sunday Prayers of the Faithful and add your family’s own.
Pray the St. Andrew novena at the wreath from November 30. See St. Andrew Christmas Novena.

Frequently asked questions

Who should bless the Advent wreath?

A priest or deacon may bless it, usually at church on the First Sunday of Advent. At home, a parent or another family member may lead a prayer of blessing.

What day do you light the first Advent candle?

On the First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2026, or on the evening before (Saturday, November 28), when Sunday’s celebration begins.

Which candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent?

The pink (rose) candle, together with the two purple candles already lit. More on the colors in Advent candles: colors, order and meaning.

Do you light the Advent candles every day?

Yes. Light the candles for the current week each evening, and add a new one each Sunday.

More Advent pages

Sources

Book of Blessings, Order for the Blessing of an Advent Wreath
Missale Romanum (traditional collects of the Sundays of Advent), English translation from older hand missals
Mark 13:33–37; Mark 1:1–8; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24; Luke 1:26–38; Isaiah 9:2

Advent Wreath Prayers for Each Week (Catholic Family Blessing and Candle Prayers)