A pause in the somber tone of the previous Sundays gives us a glimpse of the heavenly garden that awaits those faithful to the Law.
The Introit, Communion and Tract speak to us of Jerusalem compared to Mount Sinai by St. Paul in the Epistle for today. There, will the Christian people best raise their song of joy, “Laetare” (Introit, Epistle) on account of the victory won by our Lord on the cross at Jerusalem, and there most easily, will be roused the memory of the heavenly Jerusalem, whose gates have been opened to us by the death of Christ.
It is for this reason, that formerly on this day, it was the custom […] solemnly to bless a rose, the queen of flowers. For, as we are reminded by the forms used for the blessing, in the traditional practice of Christian iconography, heaven is usually represented by a garden beautiful with flowers. For this blessing rose-colored vestments were used, and on this day a priest may celebrate Mass and Office in vestments of this color. Hence this custom was extended to the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete or “rejoicing” Sunday… And in its turn Laetare, also “rejoicing” Sunday, is a halting place in the midst of the Lenten observance.
“Rejoice, rejoice with joy,” we are told in the Introit, for having died to sin with our Lord during Lent, we are shortly to rise with Him by the Paschal confession and communion.
Catechism 9:30, Confessions 10:15, Rosary 10:40, High Mass 11:00, Holy Face devotion, afterwards. Fellowship Meal in Enright Hall downstairs (Davenport)
Confessions 2:10, Low Mass 2:30, Monthly Potluck after Mass in Social Hall (Iowa City)
The Ostende Blog - Fr Christopher Young 