Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete!

 

 The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday! Rejoice!

We light the Rose Candle on this day (not "pink"), to rejoice in the Lord, ALWAYS! We are joyful not only for the coming of the ChristMass and celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but also for His glorious victory over sin and death celebrated not only on Easter Sunday, but EVERY Sunday which is like a "little Easter" every week! Through the Mass we remember His life, death, and resurrection every single time we celebrate the Mass. Likewise, every Friday is like a "little Good Friday," a time to reflect upon the unequaled Sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us - which is why we still observe some sort of penance (or act of mercy) which used to be the abstinence of meat on Fridays (and is still recommended to be that or equivalent to that) based on Canon 1250-1252, still in force and effect, of Canon Law, but I digress.

The Rose Candle is remembrance of the joy in our hearts for the risen Lord - afterall, He didn't "pink" for us on Easter Sunday, He "rose" for us!

Gaudete! Third Sunday in Advent

 Gaudete Sunday

Third Sunday in Advent!

One more Sunday to go!

On this day we light the third candle, it is pink (or rose) and symbolizes JOY!

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men: for the Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous; but in everything by prayer let your requests be made known to God. Lord, thou hast blessed thy land; thou bast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Glory be to the Father."

 And the Gospel for today is from John, and is about John the Baptist:

At that time the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to John, to ask him, Who art thou?

And he confessed, and did not deny; and he confessed: I am not the Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet?

And he answered, No.

They said therefore unto him, Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? what sayst thou of thyself?

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias.

And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?

John answered them, saying: I baptize with water: but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not: the same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose.

These things were done in Bethania beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. John 1:19-28

Gaudete - Third Sunday in Advent

Gaudete, or Joyful, Sunday is upon us! Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice! 

INTROIT (And EPISTLE) Philippians 4:4-6
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety; but in every prayer let your petitions be made known to God.

Ps. 84:2. O Lord, You have blessed Your land; You have restored Jacob from captivity.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The vestments color today is rose to symbolize the joyfulness of the coming soon of our Lord, similar to Laetare Sunday in Lent. During our days of penance - which is a main theme of the Advent season - we take time to be mindful and joyful of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, not only the celebration of His birth on the day of the Christ Mass (Christmas) but also in joyful eagerness for His Second Coming.

Also, a reminder - THIS IS NOT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON! Christmas starts with the first Mass of Christmas - or the Christ Mass. Traditionally that is "Midnight Mass" on Christmas morning. Wish your friends and fellow parishioners a Blessed Advent during this season - then celebrate the Christ Mass from December 25th through January 2nd, which is Candlemas - and the last time of the liturgical year that the nativity is directly referenced. 

This coming Thursday begins the traditional practice of reciting the O Antiphons:

The “O Antiphons” are prayed as part of the prayer of the Church from December 17 until the 23rd. Each of the O Antiphons is a name for Christ, and expresses the longing for the Messiah.

The names of Jesus in the O Antiphons are:

O Wisdom of our God Most High

O Adonai, ruler of the house of Israel

O Root of Jesse’s stem

O Key of David

O Radiant Dawn

O King of all nations

O Emmanuel

As these days progress - here at Qui Locutus we will post the traditional prayers, readings and invite your comments. Do you have a tradition you practice for the O Antiphons? 

Wow! Three Weeks Into Advent Already!

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!  Last Sunday was Gaudete Sunday.  It is a day of rejoicing in the coming of the Lord.  It is a time for relief from the penance of Advent.  We should all pause for a moment before returning to penance and take time to rejoice in the coming of the Lord, both His first and anticipated second coming.

A reminder too... keeping Christ in Christmas means keeping Mass in Christmas - it is the Christ-Mass, after all.

Gaudete Sunday!

Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee oh Israel!

The Third Sunday in Advent, Gaudete Sunday, we rejoice in the promise of the coming Messiah!  For those anticipating the First Coming of our Lord, they are in anticipation of what we celebrate on the Christ Mass (Christmas) and it is also a reminder that we rejoice in the promise that He will come again!

Today we light the pink candle on our Advent wreath - only two weeks until the Christ Mass!  Remember, the Christmas season has not yet begun!  Sure, "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" - but Christmas arrives at the Christ Mass, the First Mass of Christmas - traditionally the Midnight Mass.  The Christmas Season lasts at LEAST until Epiphany (January 6th) or according to older traditions it lasts until Candlemas (February 2nd).  I challenge you to keep your lights up and on at least through Epiphany (which is also the "Twelve Days of Christmas") if not all the way through Candlemas.  Including your Christmas tree!  Now, of course, if you have real or cut tree and there is a fire hazard, remove the tree as soon as it becomes brittle - but leave the Nativity and other decorations up!