The third Sunday of Advent is Dec. 17 and it is called Gaudete Sunday. This is the Sunday to light the sole pink candle on the Advent wreath.
The fourth Sunday of Advent is Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Most parishes will have to make a quick turnover in church decorations from Advent to Christmas. Mass attendance is required for the Sunday and for Christmas.
Here is a refresher on the candles and prayers.
Candles
The sequence of the candles is to light the first purple candle the first weekend of Advent, move clockwise and light a second purple candle on the second week, and then the third week, Gaudete Sunday, the pink candle is lit. The last purple candle is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent.
Prayers
On the third Sunday of Advent, or the evening before, gather family and friends and place the candles in the wreath. If you prefer prayers specific to each Sunday in Advent, Ignatius Press suggests:
Third Week — Dec. 17
Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayers: Longform
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops suggests the following:
The leader says:
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All respond: Who made heaven and earth.
Here you have a choice of Scripture: Isaiah 9: (lines 1-2 and 5-6) or Isaiah 63 (lines 16-17 and 19) or Isaiah 64 (lines 2-7). Below is Isaiah, Chapter 9:
The Word of the Lord.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
With hands joined, the leader says:
Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All respond: Amen.
The blessing may conclude with a verse from
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:
O come, desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of humankind;
bid ev’ry sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
Augherton can be reached at [email protected].
