Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near. ~Entrance Antiphon, Third Sunday of Advent (cf. Phil 4:4, 5)

Ave Maria! Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday or "Rejoice Sunday". According to my well-worn Collins Latin-English/English Latin Dictionary from my high school days, the Latin word "gaudeo" means "rejoice, be pleased, delight in." And this is precisely what the Church does today as we pass the midpoint of Advent. The mood lightens a bit as the priest wears rose-colored vestments at Mass and we light the rose candle in our Advent wreaths. As we pray in our Alternative Opening Prayer, "the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time." Because we still experience the sorrows, losses and unhappiness of life on this earth, we beg the Father to "Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow, for he is Lord for ever and ever. Amen."

Today is also the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! I am on my way to our parish celebration for this happy occasion, which begins at 3am, so I will continue blogging later. Until then, dear family and friends, and now and forever:

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS!