Hoping light in Advent: Diakonie hands over traditional Advent wreath
Hoping light in Advent: Diakonie hands over traditional Advent wreath
The handover of a diaconal advent wreath to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn recently took place in Vienna. Diakonie director Maria-Katharina Moser presented the traditional symbol, which is associated with the hope of better well-being. The Advent wreath contains four large candles for the Advent Sunday and smaller candles for the days of the week, which are reminiscent of the invention by the Protestant pastor Johann Wichern in the 19th century. Wichern had launched the wreath especially for disadvantaged young people.
Moser explained that the Advent wreath should not only create a festive atmosphere this year, but is also considered an urgent call to help people who urgently need support. She pointed out several groups that are particularly affected, including people with disabilities, refugees and people who want to integrate on the labor market.
a sign of support
The discussion between Cardinal Schönborn and Moser also revolved around topics such as social cohesion and the challenges of the welfare state. Both emphasized the need to promote the common good and to make sure that nobody is left behind in society. For Schönborn, this visit might mean a significant conclusion, since he will soon go out of office in his role as an archbishop of Vienna.
The history of the Advent wreath, which is deeply interwoven with the roots of the diakonia, is particularly remarkable. Moser explained that Wichern originally developed him in 1839 as a tool for looking after street children in Hamburg. These children often lived in extreme poverty and were susceptible to criminal activities. Wichern provided them with a safe place to enable them to survive and education. This is still valid today, since programs to support needy children and adolescents are a central task of the diakonia.The Advent wreath has its roots in the Protestant tradition. Wichern, who saw the need, found ways to help poorer families, especially the neglected boys and girls in the suburbs. The Advent wreath is more than just a piece of jewelry; He also reminds us of the social responsibility that we wear as a community.
The tree history of the Advent wreath began when Wichern set up a wagon wheel and decorated with candles. During the evening gatherings, he lit another candle every night to point out to Christmas. This custom, which originally emerged in Wichern's "Rauhem Haus", quickly became popular and finally also used in the communities and families as we know it today. It was not until the 1920s and 1930s that the tradition of Advent wreath was spread in the Catholic Church, while it became better known in Austria after the Second World War.
The presentation of the Advent wreath is therefore not only a symbolic act, but also an important memory of the continuous task of supporting people in difficult situations. At a time when many have to struggle with crises, the light of the many candles is a symbol of hope for community and solidarity.
Diakonie and its carriers actively get involved in order to meet the many -armed needs of children and adolescents. A large number of support systems are ready to create a protected space in which education and personal development are possible.
For more information on this topic and the background, the article www.erzdioezese-wien.at worth reading.