3rd Advent

John the Baptist takes center stage on the 3rd Advent. He was a preacher of repentance and is regarded as the forerunner of Jesus Christ, which fits in well with the Advent season in which Christians prepare for the arrival of Jesus.

This name for the third Sunday of Advent comes from the first word of the opening verse in Latin: "Gaudete in Domino semper" ("Rejoice in the Lord always", Phil 4:4). This Advent Sunday marks the beginning of the second half of the Advent season, so the event for which it prepares is drawing ever closer. This Sunday is therefore characterized by the special anticipation of the Lord's birth, as the second part of the opening verse continues: "Again I say, rejoice! For the Lord is near" (Phil 4:5).

Pink can be used as the liturgical color on this day, which brightens up the penitential color purple that is usually used during Advent. This custom is probably an adaptation of the fourth Sunday of Lent ("Laetare"), which marks the middle of the Easter penitential season and already used the color pink before because of its joyful character. A pink candle can also be lit on the Advent wreath on Gaudete.