It’s the Feast of Gaudete Sunday, 1st Class, with the color of Violet. In this episode: the meditation: “Jesus, Source of Joy”, today’s news from the Church: “Female Diaconate: Rome Says “No, But…””, and today’s thought from the Archbishop.
Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org
Sources Used Today:
- “Jesus, Source of Joy” – From Advent to Epiphany
- “Female Diaconate: Rome Says “No, But…”” (FSSPX.news)
- The Spiritual Life – Archbishop Lefebvre (Angelus Press)
On the Third Sunday of Advent, the Church pauses and invites us to rejoice. This is Gaudete Sunday, named from the opening words of the Mass – Gaudete in Domino, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Even the liturgical color softens, as violet gives way to rose, reminding us that our waiting is nearly over and that Christ is close at hand.
This joy is not loud or carefree. It is quiet, steady, and rooted in faith. Saint Paul tells us to rejoice because the Lord is near, to live with modesty, and to place our anxieties in God’s hands through prayer. True joy, he teaches, flows from peace of soul – the peace that comes from a good conscience and trust in God’s providence. This is the peace that sustained the martyrs and consoled the saints in suffering. It is not the absence of trials, but confidence that God is present within them.
The prayers of the Mass echo this theme. We ask God to enlighten the darkness of our minds by His coming, because real rejoicing begins when Christ draws near to us interiorly. Alongside this call to joy, the Church places before us Saint John the Baptist. When questioned about who he was, John refused every honor. He was not the Christ, not Elias, not the prophet – only a voice preparing the way of the Lord. His humility teaches us how to prepare for Christ’s coming: by repentance, sincerity, and a complete turning away from sin.
To bear worthy fruits of penance means more than regret. It means changing direction – using our words, senses, and actions for God where once they served sin. John’s baptism prepared souls for Christ by awakening them to their need for conversion.
Gaudete Sunday reminds us that Advent is not only about waiting, but about hopeful expectation. Christ is near. Rejoice – not because life is easy, but because God is faithful, His peace is real, and His coming brings light to every darkness.
- - - - - -
- - - - - -
Explore more:
What is the SSPX Podcast?
The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition.
What is the SSPX?
The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood.
Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls.
Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it.
https://sspx.org
