Amidst the four candles of the Advent wreath, one stands out in rose color, symbolizing the Third Sunday known as Gaudete Sunday. This Sunday’s liturgy resounds with a powerful yet seemingly simple message, “Rejoice!”
The concept of Christian joy as an integral facet of the Church’s spirituality has been underscored in various Church documents, exemplified by titles such as Evangeli Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), and Gaudete et Exultate (Rejoice And Be Glad) released by Pope Francis in recent decades.
The liturgy of Gaudete Sunday, through the prophetic words of the Introit – “Gaudete in Domino semper!” (Rejoice in the Lord always!), enjoins the faithful to embrace joy. Does this call imply a denial of physical or mental suffering, mourning, or deep depression? More profoundly, what constitutes “Christian joy,” and what is its origin? Reverend Ryan Erlenbush, a modern American theologian, elucidates that in the Church’s tradition, joy is often regarded as the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Consequently, joy is not merely an emotion, but includes the actions of a person in a state of grace, led by the Holy Spirit. It is the joy experienced by someone in communion with God. Like Mary, rejoicing in the privilege of birthing the promised Messiah, true Christian joy prompts charitable acts and propels individuals on the path to holiness, thereby creating an ideal environment for the Lord’s presence.
The Introit of Gaudete Sunday’s liturgy sets the tone:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
Present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:4-6)
V. Lord, you have blessed your land;
You have put an end to Jacob’s captivity. (Psalm 85)
The Offertory reinforces the notion that God is ready to forgive transgressions and free us from the snares of sin:
O, Lord, you have blessed your land,
You have put an end to Jacob’s captivity;
you have forgiven the guilt of your people. (Psalm 84)
The Communion Antiphon echoes the comforting words of the prophet Isaiah:
Say: “Take courage, you who are fainthearted, and do not
fear; behold, our God will come, and he will save us.” (Isaiah 35:4)
Connecting these Propers to the Gospel reading, where John the Baptist declares, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert: make straight the way of the Lord,” reveals a profound link between repentance and joy. The Church teaches us that reconciliation is the path to the joy that truly matters, the joy of realizing God dwells within us and His Spirit inspires our journey towards holiness.
The prophetic messages of the Introit, Offertory, and Communion Antiphon are integral parts of the liturgy. Their wisdom imparts crucial spiritual guidance to the faithful during this Advent Season, teaching us that true joy is found in a life animate by the living God.
For Christians, the joy of encountering God reaches an apex by participation in the Eucharist, the ultimate act of love that opens the door to a direct reception of Jesus, truly present in this Great Sacrament, fortifying and supporting our pilgrimage to the Heavenly Kingdom where our joy will know no end.
Andrzej Zahorski is Director of Music at St. Anselm Parish in St. Louis, MO. He holds a doctorate of musical arts from Stanford University.