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Sunday, December 15, 2024
From Catholic Extension Society:
During the season of Advent, we await the celebration of Christ’s birth and His coming again at the end of time. Over four weeks, we prepare our hearts for Christmas in penitential reflection. But in the middle of the season -- the third Sunday of Advent -- Gaudete Sunday calls us to rejoice in hope!What does Gaudete mean?
Gaudete means “rejoice” in Latin.
Why do we light a pink candle on Gaudete Sunday?
The Catholic Church uses the color rose to indicate a joyful feast day or holiday. Gaudete Sunday’s counterpart in Lent is Laetare Sunday, another break in penance to rejoice in hope as we approach Easter. During both days, a priest will usually wear rose vestments.
A note on Advent Wreaths…
In the Christian tradition, Advent wreaths are as beautiful as they are symbolic. These evergreen wreaths are shaped in a perfect circle to symbolize the eternity of God. Advent wreaths have four candles that remind us that Christ is the light of the world.
One of these candles is rose or pink. We light it on Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent, to represent joy and anticipation of Christmas.
In our cluster, we celebrate Gaudete Sunday by asking parishioners to bring nonperishable food gifts for donation to local food shelves. We also refer to this as a "Golden Mass."
