Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men: for the Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer let your requests be made known unto God. (Ps.) Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land: thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Gloria Patri.
Incline thine ear to our prayers, we beseech thee, O Lord: and by the grace of thy visitation enlighten the darkness of our minds: Who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
When it seems as though things are getting a little too serious, we're liable to hear someone tell us to "lighten up." That's a bit of what happens on Gaudete Sunday. Its title is taken from the first word of the Introit, "Rejoice," and it’s a day when the Church "lightens up" just a little from the somber nature of Advent. The vestments may be rose-colored rather than purple, and the rose candle in the wreath is lit — all as a reminder to us that the Lord who is our Judge is also our Redeemer. We have a reason to rejoice: the God who separates the sheep from the goats has called us to be His lambs, members of His flock, and in that is our hope.
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