Third Sunday of Advent

Sunday

Gaudete Sunday (“Rejoice!”): the midpoint of Advent, when rose vestments may be worn because the Lord is near.

Readings of the day

Joyful Mysteries

First Mystery: The Annunciation

On the Sundays of Advent many pray the Joyful Mysteries, keeping the season’s focus on the coming and birth of Christ.

“Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”Luke 1:38

The angel Gabriel is sent by God to a virgin of Nazareth named Mary and tells her she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and bear a Son, who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary gives her humble, free consent.

Fruit of the mystery: Humility

The Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Let it be done to me according to your word. Hail Mary…

V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary…

Pour forth, we pray, O Lord, your grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Traditional (from the 16th century)

Get this prayer every morning

A notification each morning with the day’s mysteries, a mystery to meditate on with its scripture, and a short prayer. Free, no account.

This day’s five mysteries (Joyful Mysteries)

The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation
The Finding in the Temple

Coming up

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)Fri, Dec 25 · Solemnity
Saint Stephen, the First MartyrSat, Dec 26 · Feast
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and JosephSun, Dec 27 · Feast
The Holy Innocents, MartyrsMon, Dec 28 · Feast
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of GodFri, Jan 1 · Solemnity

✝ Pray the full Rosary

Liturgical calendar for the dioceses of the USA (General Roman Calendar and U.S. proper), checked against the USCCB liturgical calendar. Readings: citations from the U.S. Lectionary for Mass, text from the Douay-Rheims Bible (public domain).

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