The fourth week of Advent is the last, and often the shortest. All four candles are burning now, and the wreath is full of light. The theme is love, the love of God who so loved the world that he sent his only Son. With Christmas at the door, we turn to Mary's "yes" and prepare our hearts to welcome the Savior. Here is what the fourth week of Advent means, and how to live it well.
The fourth week of Advent: a season of love
In the final week we light the fourth candle, and the wreath glows with all four flames. Depending on the year, this week can be very short, the Fourth Sunday of Advent can fall as late as December 24 itself. The readings turn toward Mary, her "yes" to God at the Annunciation and her visit to Elizabeth, as the whole Church leans in toward the manger.
The theme of this week is love, the love that lies at the very heart of Christmas: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16).
The Angel's Candle
The fourth candle, a final purple one, is often called the Angel's Candle, or the Candle of Love. It recalls the angels who announced the birth of Christ and sang, "Glory to God in the highest." With all four candles lit, the growing light of the wreath has reached its fullness, a sign that the Light of the world is about to be born.
What is the love of Christmas?
The love Advent prepares us for is not a feeling but a Person. At Christmas, God's love becomes visible, small enough to hold, in the child of Bethlehem. This is love that comes down to us, that does not wait for us to climb up to it. And it invites a response. Mary shows us how: her humble "let it be done to me according to your word" is love's perfect yes.
In these last days of Advent, we are asked to make room for that love, to receive it, and to return it, to God and to the people he has placed in our lives.
How to live the fourth week of Advent
- Light the fourth candle and pray as a family in the fullness of the wreath's light.
- Love as God loves. Choose one concrete act of love this week, especially for someone easy to overlook.
- Prepare the manger of your heart. A final visit to Confession before Christmas clears the way for Christ to be born in you.
- Welcome Christ. Ready your home and your heart to receive him, not just the holiday, but the Lord himself.
A prayer for lighting the fourth candle
Lord God, as we light the fourth candle of this wreath, open our hearts to the love that comes down at Christmas. Give us the grace to love as we are loved, and to welcome your Son, born of the Virgin Mary, into our home and our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What does the fourth Advent candle mean?
The fourth candle stands for love, the love of God who sent his Son into the world. It is lit on the Fourth Sunday of Advent as Christmas draws near.
What is the Angel's Candle?
It is a common name for the fourth Advent candle, recalling the angels who announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds.
What color is the fourth Advent candle?
Purple (violet), like the first and second. Only the third candle, lit on Gaudete Sunday, is rose.
What is the theme of the fourth week of Advent?
Love, the love of God made visible in the birth of Christ, and our call to love in return.
The four weeks of Advent
- Week One: Hope – The Prophet's Candle
- Week Two: Peace – The Bethlehem Candle
- Week Three: Joy – The Shepherd's Candle
- Week Four: Love – The Angel's Candle (you are here)
Advent items for the season
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