Rejoice in the Lord always;
again, I say, rejoice.
Indeed, the Lord is near

These words serve as the Entrance Antiphon on the 3rd Sunday of Advent. This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday (Sunday of joy), and its name is taken from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon in Latin (Gaudete = Rejoice). During the season of Advent, we use the colour purple for liturgical vestments, but this Sunday pink (rose) colour may be used. Similarly, on our Advent wreath one candle may be pink. This colour symbolizes joy. The liturgy of the 3rd Sunday of Advent emphasizes doubled joy. We should be joyful because the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord is near and additionally, we ought to remember the joyous anticipation of the Lord’s second coming.

This Tuesday, December 17th, we begin the second part of Advent that is dedicated directly to the mystery of the Nativity of the Lord. The last eight days of Advent are to prepare us for Christmas. The liturgical texts present to us the events described in Scripture that foretold and preceded the birth of the Saviour. We wish to mark the beginning of that part of Advent with a Mass celebrated at 7 pm and a special celebration to follow. Everyone is welcome!

The word ‘antiphon’ comes from Greek and means ‘sounding against, responsive sound, singing opposite, alternate chant’. An antiphon consists of one or more psalm verses or sentences from Holy Scripture and gives the key to the liturgical and mystical meaning of the feast on which it occurs. During each Mass there are two antiphons: one for the Entrance and one for Communion. They can be sung or simply recited. Usually we do not hear them because they are replaced by Entrance and Communion hymns. During weekday Masses we can hear an antiphon especially before the Communion.

Let us rejoice because our Lord is near!

God bless,
Fr. Peter