Third Sunday of Advent

Sunday 14 December 2008

DOMINICA III ADVENTUS
3rd Sunday of Advent
commonly called "Gaudete Sunday"
1st Class, Violet/Rose
No Gloria; Credo; Preface of the Holy Trinity

Oremus.

Aurem tuam, quæsumus, Dómine, précibus nostris accómmoda: et mentis nostræ ténebras grátia tuæ visitatiónis illústra : Qui vivis.

Let us pray.

Incline thine ear, we beseech thee, O Lord, to our prayers: and make bright the darkness of our minds by the grace of thy visitation.

Who livest and reignest.

This collect is now used for the Monday in the 3rd Week of Advent in the Missal of Pope Paul VI, however, like so many it is also in the Gelasian Sacramentary and the Gregorian.

On this day the Church urges us to gladness in the middle of this time of expectation and penitence: the coming of Jesus approaches more and more. St. John, the holy precursor, announces to the Jews the coming of the Saviour. The Saviour'', he says to them, lives already among us, though unknown. He will soon appear openly." Now is the time for fervent prayers and for imploring Jesus to remain with us by His mercy. Let us prepare the way for Him by repentance and penitence and by a worthy reception of the Sacraments. All the prayers of this Mass are filled with that which the Church wishes our souls to be possessed at the approach of the Saviour..

Links:

• Goffine, The Church's Year, third Sunday in Advent
  
• Guéranger, L'Année Liturgique, "3ème Dimanche Avent"
• Gregorian Chant Propers
  

(image: breviary.net;
reflection: St Francis Xavier Association)