Maddie James
The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, which falls between 11 and 17 December. The rose colour of the candle symbolises joy and the anticipation of the upcoming Christmas feast. The priest also wears rose vestments at Mass on this day. The candle is also lit on the Fourth Sunday in Lent, which is known as Laetare Sunday.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the day the rose candle is lit | Gaudete Sunday, Rejoice Sunday |
| Date | Third Sunday of Advent, can fall on any date from 11 December to 17 December |
| Vestments | Rose |
| Theme | Joy |
| Symbolism | Expectation and hope |
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What You'll Learn
The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent
The rose-coloured candle, also known as the "pink candle", is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also called "Gaudete Sunday" or "Rejoice Sunday". This Sunday marks the midpoint of Advent, signalling that Christmas is near and that the faithful are halfway through their preparation.
The rose candle is one of four candles in the Advent wreath, with the other three being purple. The purple candles symbolise prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and good works undertaken during Advent. The rose candle, on the other hand, symbolises joy. This is reflected in the readings for Gaudete Sunday, which centre around rejoicing in the Lord. The theologian Thomas Aquinas distinguished between joy and happiness, noting that happiness is the final end of man, while joy is an effect of the virtue of charity or "love".
The colour rose or pink is chosen as a reminder that even amid longing, penitence, and fasting, the church never ceases to rejoice. This is also reflected in the priest's vestments, which are usually violet or purple during Advent but are changed to rose on Gaudete Sunday to match the colour of the candle.
The lighting of the rose candle on the third Sunday of Advent is one of the more ambiguous liturgical practices of the church, with many people unsure of its purpose or history. Some have also associated the candle with Mary, although this may be a confusion with Mothering Sunday, which is the fourth Sunday in Lent and another occasion for rose-coloured vestments.
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It is also known as Gaudete Sunday, meaning 'rejoice'
The pink candle, also known as the rose candle, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as Gaudete Sunday, meaning 'rejoice' in Latin. This Sunday marks the halfway point of the Advent period, a time of expectation and preparation for the feast of Christmas and the second coming of Christ. The lighting of the pink candle symbolises the joy of anticipating Christmas and the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy of God's eternal love and mercy.
The colour pink is chosen as a reminder that even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting, the church never ceases to rejoice. The vestments worn by priests on Gaudete Sunday are also rose-coloured, a departure from the usual violet or purple vestments worn during Advent.
The readings for Gaudete Sunday focus on rejoicing in the Lord and Christian joy, as well as the mission of John the Baptist and his connection with Advent. The day takes its name from the Latin word 'Gaudete', which means 'rejoice'. This is derived from the first word of the introit of the day's Mass: 'Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete', which translates to ''Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice'.
The lighting of the pink candle on Gaudete Sunday is a time-honoured tradition in the liturgical calendar of Western Christianity, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, Lutheran churches, and other mainline Protestant churches. While the date of Gaudete Sunday varies each year, it always falls between 11 and 17 December, marking the third Sunday of the Advent season.
The Advent wreath, with its four candles, symbolises the four weeks of Advent, with each week representing 1,000 years of the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the birth of Jesus. The three purple candles symbolise prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices, while the pink candle stands out as a symbol of joy and anticipation.
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The rose candle symbolises joy and gladness
The rose-coloured candle, also known as the "Gaudete" or "Rejoice" candle, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which falls on any date between 11 and 17 December. This date marks the halfway point of Advent, symbolising the joyous feast of Christmas being near. The rose candle symbolises joy and gladness, with the colour chosen as a reminder that even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting, the church never ceases to rejoice.
The lighting of the rose candle is a continuation of pre-Christian Germanic traditions, where candles were placed on wreaths in the middle of winter to symbolise hope for the return of spring. The colour pink or rose was chosen to represent the joy and gladness of the promised redemption. The rose candle is one of four candles lit during the Advent season, with the other three being purple. The purple candles symbolise prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and good works undertaken during Advent.
The rose candle is lit on "Gaudete Sunday", which takes its name from the Latin word "Gaudete", meaning "rejoice". This is reflected in the readings for the day, such as Paul's letter to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!". The vestments worn by the priest during Mass on this day are also rose-coloured, matching the candle.
The lighting of the rose candle is a reminder to find joy in the midst of the busyness and stress of the holiday season. It symbolises the joy of anticipation for Christmas and the birth of Christ, as well as the second coming of Christ. The rose candle brings a sense of child-like delight and simplicity to the Advent season, encouraging followers to rejoice despite any difficulties they may be facing.
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The rose colour is a reminder that the church never ceases to rejoice
The pink candle, or the "rose" candle, is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also known as Gaudete Sunday, or "Rejoice" Sunday. This Sunday marks the halfway point of the Advent period and is a day of celebration and rejoicing, as the faithful are now close to Christmas. The rose colour of the candle symbolises joy and gladness, reminding the church to rejoice even amidst the penitence and fasting of the Advent season.
The lighting of the rose candle is a reminder to focus on joy and to find comfort, compassion, and companionship during the Advent period. It is a time to reflect on the simple things that bring true joy, such as the anticipation and expectation of the coming of Christ. The colour rose represents the joyous feast of Christmas that is near, and the vestments of the priest also change to rose on this day to match the candle.
The Advent wreath, with its three purple candles and one rose candle, symbolises the four weeks of Advent. Traditionally, each week represents 1,000 years, signifying the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the birth of Jesus Christ. The purple candles symbolise prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices, while the rose candle signifies joy and rejoicing.
The use of the rose colour during Gaudete Sunday is a reminder that even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting, the church never ceases to rejoice. This attitude of rejoicing is reflected in the change of vestments from purple to pink, and the focus of the church's worship is centred on joy. The readings for Gaudete Sunday deal with Christian joy and the mission of John the Baptist, emphasising the theme of rejoicing in the Lord.
While the specific practice of lighting a pink candle during the third week of Advent may be relatively ambiguous and unknown to many, the colour pink or rose has been chosen as a deliberate reminder of the church's joy. This tradition dates back to pre-Christian times, where Germanic peoples placed candles on wreaths during the cold and dark December days, symbolising hope and anticipation for the return of warm and sunny spring days. Thus, the rose candle lit during Advent symbolises the joy and hope of the coming of Christ, bringing light and warmth into the world.
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The rose candle is also lit on the fourth Sunday of Lent
The rose-coloured candle is predominantly associated with the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, and the liturgical colour of the day. However, the rose candle is also lit on the fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday. This day is a slight variation on Mothering Sunday, which is an old English tradition where servants were given the day off to visit their mothers.
The rose candle is lit on this day to symbolise joy and gladness amid the more penitential seasons of the liturgical calendar. The colour pink, or rose, is chosen to remind Christians that even in the midst of longing, penance, and fasting, the church never ceases to rejoice. The day begins with the statement, "Laetare Jerusalem" ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem"), and the church's vestments are changed from purple to pink.
The rose candle is also lit on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, which marks the midpoint of Advent and the halfway point of the anticipation for Christmas. The colour of the candle and the vestments of the priest are changed to rose to symbolise joy. The day's Mass begins with the word "Gaudete" ("Rejoice"), and the readings focus on rejoicing in the Lord.
The use of the colour rose, or pink, and the lighting of the rose candle on these two Sundays in the liturgical calendar are thus meant to symbolise joy and gladness amid seasons of penance and fasting.
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Frequently asked questions
The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, which falls on any date from 11 to 17 December.
"Gaudete" is derived from the Latin word for "rejoice". The day's Mass starts with "Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete", which translates to "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice".
The rose candle symbolises joy and gladness in the promised Redemption. It is also a reminder that the church never ceases to rejoice even in the midst of longing, penitence, and fasting.
The priest wears rose-coloured vestments to match the colour of the candle.
