Gaudete Sunday is the name given to
the 3rd Sunday of Advent. The name
is taken from the words of the introit, Gaudete in Domino semper,
"rejoice in the Lord always."
The Scriptural basis comes from Philippians 4:4,5. Similar to Laetare Sunday during
Lent, Gaudete Sunday is a minor "break" from the more penitential
nature of the Advent season, and signals a shift from a penitential style of
waiting to a more joyful tone.
In the distant past, when organs and
flowers were forbidden during the Advent Season, they were permitted during
Gaudete Sunday. Because of the more joyful tone of Gaudete Sunday, rose colored
(pink) vestments may be used instead of the normal violet ones. Also, the rose
colored Advent candle is lit.
SOME PRAYERS FOR THIS SUNDAY
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works
of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this
mortal life, in which thy Son, Jesus Christ, came to visit us in great
humility: that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious
majesty to judge both the quick and the dead; we may rise to the life immortal.
Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with
thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Gaudete. Rejoice in the Lord alway:
and again I say, Rejoice: let your moderation be known unto all men: the Lord
is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto
God. Ps. Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land: thou
hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Gloria Patri.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy
first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee: grant
that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and
make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of
the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an
acceptable people in thy sight, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the
Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Note:
Archbishop Thomas Cranmer wrote some
of the most poetic and heartfelt collects in his works found in the English
Book of Common Prayer. Much of the basis of his writings came from
sources of the current time period including the prayers from the Catholic Sarum
Rite, along with writings from Hermann von Wied,
Bishop Thomas Cranmer's unique gift of blending theological
substance with simple, humble, and moving clarity has made the Collects
(prayers) essential not only to the English liturgy but also to the pastoral
tradition of the church: these prayers still remain a deep source of
inspiration for Christians enmeshed in the everyday trials and testings of
life.
