The second Advent candle was lit tonight in Kaštel Štafilić by the director of the Kaštela Tourist Board, Nada Maršić, accompanied by a song by the children's choir of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the klapa of the teacher, Trpimirka from Kaštel Gomilica.
The second Advent candle represents peace, it is also called the Bethlehem candle, and is lit in honor of the manger where baby Jesus stayed in the stable immediately after his birth.
The candle was lit by Nada Maršić, who said on the occasion:
- Advent in Kaštela, this most wonderful time of the year, has already begun. Tonight we light the second candle, and Saint Nicholas has made a great effort today with our youngest children. Our fellow citizens are also rejoicing, Kaštela is lit in full splendor. I take this opportunity to light this second Advent candle, the candle of peace, which coincided with Saint Nicholas, to congratulate all our fellow citizens on this Advent season, and especially all those named Nikola, Nikolina and all possible derivatives of that name.
- I invite all citizens to light all Advent candles every Saturday, and there are two left. I also invite you to participate in all programs organized by the City of Kaštela, both for children and adults. Let's all enjoy these wonderful days together in anticipation of the arrival of Christmas.
The second event in Advent
The service of the word and the blessing of the candle were led by Don Gabriel Kamber:
- In this second event in Advent, where we light a new candle on the Advent wreath, this time the candle of peace. The Lord Jesus Christ says in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God." I believe that what we have heard so far are great indicators of how we all need peace and how peace is a vital need of modern man.
How to achieve peace and how to inherit it within our hearts? I would say that there are two extremely important ways for us humans. First, peace is gained through prayer. Prayer is a prerequisite for peace. He who prays always carries within himself the heritage of peace. Likewise, prayer is a fruit that comes from healthy solitude, that solitude into which we know how to retreat from the modern world that has scattered us into various areas of life.
We are all aware that Christ is our peace, that from him and for us all peace emanates, and that he is the peace that comes into this world by his birth. Let us pray to the Lord that through solitude and the seriousness of prayer we may truly become heirs of peace in our families, in our workplaces, and everywhere we go with the role that God has intended for us and that we have taken on in this world.
This year, the richly decorated Advent wreath was once again made with lots of love by the students and teachers of the Braća Radić High School.
Photo: Ivana Topic
