Gaudete Sunday

Here's another valuable resource I forgot to mention previously, from the Catholic Information Network. There you will find this article about the Third Sunday of Advent.

"Gaudete" means Rejoice! for the Lord is near~

The Catholic Encyclopedia says, "In the Mass, the Introit Gaudete in Domino semper strikes the same note, and gives its name to the day...The spirit of the Office and Liturgy all through Advent is one of expectation and preparation for the Christmas feast as well as for the second coming of Christ, and the penitential exercises suitable to that spirit are thus on Gaudete Sunday suspended, as it were, for a while in order to symbolize that joy and gladness in the Promised Redemption which should never be absent from the heart of the faithful."

It's especially delightful this year because it coincides with the beginning of the O Antiphons.