As we journey in Advent and look forward to Christmas, we celebrate our joy at the coming of the Lord. Joy, prayer and thanksgiving should characterise Christian worship. Patient waiting for the fulfilment is our Christian duty.
There should be no complaining, no giving up or losing heart. Joy, prayer and thanksgiving should characterise the Christian community. Because the man of integrity has come with good news for the poor, we can exult for joy. But his coming will mean that we also will practice justice and integrity.
Readings for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
Click on www.catholicbishops.ie/readings for our readings in English and Irish for the third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday.
The Advent Wreath on the Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday
Gaudete Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent. Like Lent, Advent is a penitential season, so the priest normally wears purple vestments.
But on Gaudete Sunday, having passed the midpoint of Advent, the Church lightens the mood a little, and the priest may wear rose vestments.
The change in color provides us with encouragement to continue our spiritual preparation – especially prayer and fasting – for Christmas.
For this same reason, the third candle of the Advent wreath, lit today, Gaudete Sunday, is traditionally rose-coloured.
Audio: Advent Thought for the Day
Each day during Advent we are bringing you an audio Thought for the Day on a different theme. Today’s Thought for Today is from Kate Liffey, National Director for Catechetics and Co-ordinator of the National Faith Development Team.
Click below to listen to today’s reflection
Visual Thought for the Day
We have a lovely joy filled thought for the day from Pope Francis for sharing on social media about how contagious the good news of the Gospel is:
The Words of Pope Francis
“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world. The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive!”.
Thus begins the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Christus vivit (Christ is alive) by Pope Francis published in April. This year’s Advent Calendar is featuring Pope Francis’ words from Christus vivit which he has addressed to young people , and to the entire People of God and published on 2 April 2019. In the document, the Pope explains that he allowed himself to be “inspired by the wealth of reflections and conversations of the Synod” on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment which took place in the Vatican in October 2018.
Today’s excerpt is on the Church focusing on keeping itself young by listening to and working with young people:
Christ’s Church can always yield to the temptation to lose enthusiasm because she no longer hears the Lord calling her to take the risk of faith, to give her all without counting the dangers; she can be tempted to revert to seeking a false, worldly form of security. Young people can help keep her young. They can stop her from becoming corrupt; they can keep her moving forward, prevent her from being proud and sectarian, help her to be poorer and to bear better witness, to take the side of the poor and the outcast, to fight for justice and humbly to let herself be challenged. Young people can offer the Church the beauty of youth by renewing her ability to “rejoice with new beginnings, to give unreservedly of herself, to be renewed and to set out for ever greater accomplishments”.
38. Those of us who are no longer young need to find ways of keeping close to the voices and concerns of young people. “Drawing together creates the conditions for the Church to become a place of dialogue and a witness to life-giving fraternity”.We need to make more room for the voices of young people to be heard: “listening makes possible an exchange of gifts in a context of empathy… At the same time, it sets the conditions for a preaching of the Gospel that can touch the heart truly, decisively and fruitfully”.
(CV 37 – 38)
#LivingAdvent 2019
During Advent are sharing family prayers and suggestions for acts of kindness or charity that all of us are encouraged to undertake during the month of December. The Advent Calendar is also also offering tips on how families can care for our common home by having a more sustainable Christmas.
Advent Random Act of Kindness
Check in on elderly neighbours to see if they need help or a listening ear. Christmas can be a lonely time for many people.
Let’s Be Family – Act of Charity
Donate a coat or warm clothing to a local charity.
Living Advent by Caring for Our Common Home
Try to avoid serving people with paper or plastic plates and cups if you are entertaining.
Living Advent by welcoming Migrants and Refugees
At home, at school, at work, wherever we go today, let us be committed to welcoming the vulnerabilities of our brothers and sisters with whom we come into contact.
Advent Prayers
The ‘O’ Antiphons of Advent
Since the seventh century, this set of seven prayer texts has been sung or recited over the final days of Advent during the daily service of vespers, or evening prayer. They are voiced in response to the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Each antiphonal prayer addresses God with “O” and a biblical name and concludes with a call for him to come. The phrases of the prayers derive from Scripture. You may be familiar with them from the verses of the well-known Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” They may be used devotionally, one a day, from December 17 to 23. We will be sharing them on the Advent Calendar from 17 – 23 but here are the traditional texts of the “Great O’s”:
O Wisdom, O holy word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care: Come and show your people the way to salvation.
O Sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: Come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; rulers stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
O Key of David, O royal power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and lead your captive people into freedom.
O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
O Ruler of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart, O keystone of the mighty arch of humankind: Come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.
O Emmanuel, ruler and lawgiver, desire of the nations, savior of all people: Come and set us free, Lord our God.
Our Prayer Intention for the Day to Pray Together as a Family
We pray for all parents and teachers;
that they may help the new generation to grow
in faith and love.
We pray for all those who work to care for the sick;
doctors, nurses, carers, those who work in hospitals
and hospices and all who offer support and care to families
in times of illness.
Advent Music
Guadete is an up-tempo, jovial 16th century Christmas carol. This is a performance by Anúna as part of the “Anúna : Celtic Origins” show with arrangement by Michael McGlynn.
