13 December - Gaudete
Many of our favourite Christmas carols were originally published in the 1582 collection of Finnish and Swedish Latin-language music Piae Cantiones, first imported into Britain almost three hundred years later by the British ambassador to Sweden.
Gaudete (Rejoice!) has been recorded by many groups and choirs, from Steeleye Span in the 1970s through The King's Singers' 1990 recording for A Little Christmas Music and the boys' choir Libera on their "Luminosa" album.
It's chosen for today because the third Sunday in Advent is often named "Gaudete Sunday", and is marked by a rose-coloured candle in the Advent wreath of some churches and a brief joyful intermission in the otherwise penitential theme of Advent, which until the 9th century started a full 40 days before Christmas, again mirroring Lent. Most Eastern Orthodox churches maintain the original length of Advent to this day.
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Gaudete, gaudete! Tempus adest gratiæ Gaudete... Deus homo factus est Gaudete... Ezechielis porta Gaudete... Ergo nostra contio Gaudete, gaudete! |
Rejoice, rejoice! The time of grace has come— Rejoice... God has become man, Rejoice... The closed gate of Ezekiel Rejoice... Therefore, let our assembly Rejoice, rejoice! |