Gaudete Sunday
On the third Sunday in Advent, the Church celebrates Gaudete Sunday. Along with the fourth Sunday of Lent (called Laetare Sunday), Gaudete Sunday marks one of only two occasions in the liturgical year in which members of the ordained clergy wear rose-colored vestments. Both Sundays share the common theme of rejoicing in the midst of periods of penance and preparation.
The word gaudete in Latin is the second-person, plural imperative form of a verb meaning “to rejoice” and translates to something like “you all rejoice.” At first, this may seem like an odd grammatical choice. We might more commonly expect to see the Latin gaudeamus, which means “let us rejoice” as a common and inclusive call to joy. The name for the third Sunday of Advent is taken from the first word of the Latin introit for the Mass—Gaudete in Domino semper—“rejoice in the Lord always,” a quote from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 4:4 (NABRE).
Why do you think it is that the Church focuses on joy at this point in the liturgical year? During the season of Advent, what ways do you rejoice in the Lord and prepare for his coming?
related topics: Advent; Happy Christmas
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Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is a five-lesson Catholic Bible study offering an in-depth look at the biblical foundations of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This revised study, which has been granted an imprimatur, contains all of the original material of the 2004 edition as well as many new features in an improved, reader-friendly format. Free digital lessons of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering are available on our website during Lent. Click here to view a sample of the first lesson.
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