Rose-colored vestments were allowed instead of purple, the deacon and sub-deacon reassumed the dalmatic and tunicle, and cardinals wore rose-colour instead of purple. On the middle or third Sunday of Advent – corresponding to Laetare or Mid-Lent Sunday – the organ and flowers, which had been forbidden during the rest of the season, were permitted once again. But on Gaudete Sunday, the penitential exercises suitable to the spirit of Advent are suspended, symbolising that joy and gladness in the promised redemption that should never be absent from our hearts. The spirit of the Liturgy all through Advent is one of expectation and preparation for the Christmas feast, as well as for the second coming of Christ. This Sunday takes the name Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word Gaude, “Rejoice,” the first word in the traditional introit for this morning:īut in all things, by prayer and supplication, But in the ninth century, the length of Advent was reduced to four weeks. The season of Advent began as a fast of 40 days in preparation for Christmas. Some traditions say the custom of wearing rose-pink vestments on this Sunday – as on the fourth Sunday of Lent ( Laetare Sunday) – comes from an old custom of the Popes distributing roses on these days. In many parts of the Anglican Communion and in some Lutheran traditions, the colour may be Sarum blue instead. On this Sunday, which is also known as Gaudete Sunday, rose-coloured vestments are worn instead of the Advent violet. But the pink colour of the third candle indicates that the Third Sunday of Advent is a less solemn day.
The three purple candles represent the generally penitential character of the Advent season. Whether they are in a circular or stepped arrangement, the white candle should be the highest, central or most prominent candle in the arrangement. Once lit, they are each then lit again for the remaining Sundays, so that on Christmas Day they are all lit. They are first lit on each of the Sundays of Advent and on Christmas Day as follows:Īdvent 3: pink, for Saint John the Baptist The Advent Wreath has five candles: three purple, one pink and one white.
Despite the otherwise sombre readings of Advent, the readings on the third Sunday emphasise the joyous anticipation of the Lord’s coming. In churches with an Advent wreath, the rose-coloured candle is lit alongside the two violet (or blue) candles from the first two Sundays of Advent. But there is a change this week, for today is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, when the pink or rose-coloured candle in the wreath is lit. So far, we have lit two of the five candles – two of the purple or violet candles on the edge. Zephaniah 3: 14-20 Psalm 146: 5-10 Philippians 4: 4-7 Luke 3: 7-18.įor the past two weeks, the Advent wreath has been lighting each day at the offices and at the Liturgy. O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. note the pink or rose-colured robes on the Angel Gabriel and on the Virgin Mary