This week, we change pace a little. As opposed to a violet candle, we light a “rose” colored candle. This candle, the Shepherd’s candle, represents joy. This past Sunday also had a special name: Gaudete Sunday. “Gaudete” means “rejoice” and comes from the introit, “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete.” (Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.) So why, when in the midst of a season of waiting, should we rejoice two weeks before Christmas?
The first cause for joy comes from the nearness of the long-awaited savior. The introit continues, “Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand.” The Church celebrates Gaudete Sunday to encourage the faithful to persevere in their penitence. This parallels with Laetare Sunday in Lent, which serves a similar purpose. In both cases, the Church recognizes that our human bodies need a break from the preparation and penances of these liturgical seasons of waiting, and that the joy of the Lord’s nearness encourages us to continue on.
We also celebrate Gaudete Sunday because of the joy we have has Christians in the midst of a broken, sinful world. Just as this Sunday marks the nearness of our feast celebrating the incarnation, we should always celebrate the nearness of Our Lord. No matter the sufferings we suffer in this life, we can maintain our joy in Christ’s promises. Though our bodies matter, we can accept pain, deprivation, and suffering because we know that God will restore our bodies to us at the General Resurrection.
The third candle is the Shepherd’s Candle
Finally, joy comes naturally from the hope and faith that we celebrated in the previous two weeks. Our hope in God’s promises leads us to have faith. Our faith in God’s promises, leads us to joy at the prospect of receiving what He promised: eternity with the one who loves us.
This Gaudete Sunday, rejoice in God’s love for you.
Annunciation to the Shepherds by the Master of the Houghton Miniatures
Chris Tarantino is the Communications Director for TOBET. He studied History at The University at Texas A&M and has written for the Tennessee Register and Nashville Catholic.
This blog and all content on this website is copyrighted, all rights reserved. © 2025 Theology of the Body Evangelization Team, Inc. (TOBET)