Sunday, December 12, 2021

Rejoice in your salvation

Today you may have noticed your priest wore a pink or a “rose” vestment and if your Church has an advent wreath - the third candle would have been pink as well. This is similar to the 4th week of Lent (Laetare Sunday) …. The only two times in the liturgical year that a priest will ever wear pink/“rose”. 

The reason for this is that Lent & Advent are both penitential times of year. This is why the priest wears purple during this time and we don’t sing the Gloria during Mass on Sundays. It is a time to intensify and prepare for the mystery we are going to celebrate. 

Today is know as “Gaudate” Sunday - this comes from the entrance antiphon of the Mass for today, where we are told to Rejoice. This is highlighted by the opening prayer and especially the first reading from the prophet Zephaniah. As we await the Coming of Jesus, we await joyfully because we know that our God comes. 

The birth of Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of God dwelling amongst us and being in our midst. He remains with us hidden in the Sacraments, and will return again in glory to complete the Kingdom he has already started here in earth. 

Let us cry out with rejoicing - come Lord Jesus! 
———
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

Phil 4: 4-5
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.
Indeed, the Lord is near.

COLLECT

O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.




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