Third Sunday of Advent

~  Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, known as “Gaudete Sunday.” Most of us know it as the day to light the pink candle! And I love that so many wear pink when they come to Mass on this day. What is special about this Third Sunday of Advent?  The traditions surrounding this Sunday go back as far as the fourth or fifth century, as does the season of Advent itself.  Advent, our preparation for Christmas, was originally a forty-day penitential season like Lent.  In fact, since it used to begin on 12 November (just after the Memorial of St. Martin of Tours), it was called “St Martin’s Lent.”   “Gaudete Sunday” was the Advent counterpart to “Laetare Sunday,” which marks the mid-point in Lent.

On Gaudete Sunday, the season of Advent shifts its focus. For the first two weeks of Advent, the focus can be summed up in the phrase, “The Lord is coming!”  But beginning with Gaudete Sunday, the summary might be, “The Lord is near!”  This shift is marked by a lighter mood and a heightened sense of joyous anticipation.

Liturgically, the colors lighten as well.  The priest usually wears rose-colored vestments, a hue seen only on Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday.  On this day, we light the third candle of the Advent wreath, which is also rose-colored, or if you prefer, pink.

The word “Gaudete” is Latin for “Rejoice.”  This celebration is a reminder that God who loves us is still in charge and that we await His coming not with fear but with tremendous joy! St Paul wrote to the Ephesians, reflecting this joy:  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  So, how will you rejoice today?

In these final days before Christmas the “O Antiphons” take center stage in the Church’s prayer.  For many Catholics, the “O Antiphons” are mostly known in the traditional Advent chant “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”  This song, with its longing for the coming of the Savior, genuinely belongs to Advent and not to Christmas.

Its melody is based on Gregorian chant and its verses are all taken from the Church’s “O antiphons.” These antiphons introduce the Magnificat, or Canticle of Mary, in the Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours from 17 December through 23 December.  Each antiphon begins with a traditional title for Christ. They are: “O Wisdom,” “O Leader of the House of Israel [Adonai],” “O Root of Jesse’s Stem,” “O Key of David,” “O Radiant Dawn,” “O King of all the nations,” and finally, “O Emmanuel” which means “God with us.”

Each of these traditional titles for the Messiah connects the coming of Christ with the prophetic writings of the Old Testament. During these last days of Advent, you may wish to add these “O Antiphons” to your evening prayer, your meal prayer, or your bedtime prayer. Let us pray for one another as Christmas draws close! The Lord is near!

Next Sunday, after 10:00am Mass, we will decorate our beautiful Church for the Christmas season. Thanks to the many people who have assisted in this effort for many years, and welcome to anyone who wants to assist in this effort. Many hands make light work!