Out of the four Sundays of Advent, the 3rd Sunday of Advent is the most unique, as it breaks with the general "color scheme" of the penitential season.
It even has a special Latin name that many priests refer to on that day, calling it, "Gaudete Sunday."
What does it mean?
Rejoice Sunday
The Entrance Antiphon that is traditionally sung at the beginning of Mass on the 3rd Sunday of Advent speaks of the joy we should possess as we get closer to Christmas:
Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult and be filled from the breasts of your consolation.
Psalm: I rejoiced when they said to me: “We shall go into God's House!”
In Latin the first word of the antiphon is, "Gaudete," which is translated into English as, "Rejoice."
Furthermore, the color rose is worn by priests on this day, which is different from the rest of Advent, when priests wear violet. This color, which is only used twice in the whole liturgical year, is traditionally associated with a sense of joy amidst a season of penance. On both Sundays (Gaudete in Advent and Laetare in Lent), rose is worn to remind us that the season of preparation is coming to a close and the great feast is swiftly approaching.
In many countries, rose is also the color of the candle that is lit on this Sunday, further accentuating the joy that we should experience as we approach Christmas.
Pope Benedict XVI commented on this spiritual reality during an Angelus message in 2007:
"Gaudete in Domino semper - Rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4: 4). Holy Mass of the Third Sunday of Advent opens with these words of St Paul and is therefore called "gaudete" Sunday. The Apostle urges Christians to rejoice because the Lord's coming, that is, his glorious return, is certain and will not be delayed. The Church makes this invitation her own while she prepares to celebrate Christmas and her gaze is focused ever more intently on Bethlehem.
Gaudete Sunday is a beautiful part of Advent, forcing us to break our penitential observance to look forward with hope to the coming of our Savior.
