Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
On Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, the Catholic Liturgy offers the faithful a joyful pause from the penitential note of Advent. Vestments are rose-coloured, the Gloria is sung, and flowers decorate the altar. The entrance antiphon of the Mass is taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Phil 4:4).
See also:
Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 61:1-2A, 10-11
The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God. I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for He has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.
Responsorial Psalm – Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54. (R.Is 61:10b)
R. My soul rejoices in my God.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has looked upon His lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: R.
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His Name.
He has mercy on those who fear Him
in every generation. R.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of His servant Israel
for He has remembered His promise of mercy, R.
Second Reading – 1 Thes 5:16-24
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will also accomplish it.
Gospel – Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Featured Saints
St. Begga,widow and abbess (†693). Noble widow of French origin who founded the monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Andenne, Belgium, and served as its abbess.
St. Judicael (†c. 650). King of the Bretons; he re-established peace between Bretons and Franks and, after abdicating the throne, spent the rest of his life in the Abbey of Saint-Méen, France.
St. José Manyanet y Vives, priest (†1901). Founder of the Congregations of the Sons and Daughters of the Holy Family in Barcelona, (Spain), with the mission of imitating, honouring and spreading devotion to the Holy Family of Nazareth and promoting the Christian formation of families.
St. Modestus, bishop (†634). Patriarch of Jerusalem; he restored the Holy City which had been devastated by the Persians and rebuilt the monasteries which, thanks to his zeal, were soon filled them with monks.
St. John of Matha, priest (†1213). Together with St. Felix of Valois, he founded the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Ransom of Captives in Cerfroid, France.
St. Wivina, abbess (†1170). First superior of the Monastery of St. Mary of Grand-Bigard in Belgium.
Blessed Hyacinth Cormier, priest (†1916). Superior General of the Dominican Order born in Orleans, France; he aimed to restore everything according to the spirit of the founder, beginning with prayer and studies.
Blessed Matilde of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, virgin (†1902). Founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church in Don Benito, Spain.
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