Week Three - Gaudete Sunday
Collect
Ora / Pray
O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord's Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation,
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Labora / Work
Happy Gaudete Sunday! On this the third Sunday of Advent we are called to be joyful because of the gift of salvation. Another way in which Saint Thomas Aquinas teaches that we are made in the imago Dei is that we are created with free will. This means we can choose to be joyful regardless of the circumstances of the day. Ask yourself, am I bringing the joy of God’s love into my marriage and family? Marriage has been called a sacrament of salvation because it is a path to salvation for the husband, wife and children. Today give nothing but joy to your spouse and your children so they will look forward to eternal salvation.