Third Sunday of Advent

Gaudete in Dominio semper: iterum dico, gaudete.

​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 petitions be made known to God.
​- Introit: Gaudete Sunday

Today, again, the Church is full of joy, and the joy is greater than it was. It is true that her Lord has not come; but she feels that He is nearer than before, and therefore she thinks it just to lessen some what the austerity of this penitential season by the innocent cheerfulness of her sacred rites. And first, this Sunday has had the name of Gaudete given to it, from the first word of the Introit; it also is honored with those impressive exceptions which belong to the fourth Sunday of Lent, called Laetare ... How touching are all these usages, and how admirable this condescension of the Church, wherewith she so beautifully blends together the unalterable strictness of the dogmas of faith and the graceful poetry of the formulae of her liturgy. Let us enter into her spirit, and be glad on this third Sunday of her Advent, because our Lord is now so near unto us. Tomorrow we will resume our attitude of servants mourning for the absence of their Lord and waiting for Him; for every delay, however short, is painful and makes love sad.
- Dom Gueranger on the Third Sunday of Advent

Say, ye faint-hearted, take courage and fear not:
behold our God will come, and will save us.
- Communion: Gaudete Sunday