Today, known as Gaudete Sunday (because Gaudete is the first word of today’s Introit), is one of only two days during the year when the priest wears rose-colored vestments – the other being Laetere Sunday, during Lent. Normally, the organ is not used during Advent and Lent, but it is permitted on these same two days, Gaudete Sunday and Laetere Sunday.
The use of rose-colored vestments also signals the use of Mass XVII (for the Sundays of Advent and Lent). There are two versions of the Kyrie for Mass XVII. We typically will sing the first version during Advent and the second version during Lent. Of course, there is no Gloria. We paired the Kyriale with Credo I.
Our first consideration in choosing hymns for the day is the liturgical season, which, of course, is Advent. English-language hymns are not permitted during a sung Mass but they are permitted for the processional and recessional (neither of which is during the Mass), so we sang O come, O come, Emmanuel as the processional.
At the Offertory, yet again, we sang Stella Coeli Extirpavit, imploring Our Lady to obtain for us relief from the current pestilence. We will soon move this to be sung after the Mass.
We also managed to fit in but a single verse of Rorate Coeli Desuper. The title of this hymn is from the opening words of Isaiah 45:8:
Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum. Aperiatur terra et germinet salvatorem.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just. Let the earth be opened and send forth a Saviour.
The text is used frequently both at Mass and in the Divine Office during Advent. It occurs daily as the versicle and response at Vespers.
At the Communion, the mixed choir sang Sancta et Immaculata. This is a polyphonic rendering of the sixth responsory from Matins of Christmas. The Schola will sing the Gregorian setting at Matins.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception occurred earlier in the week, so we concluded with Immaculate Mary as the recessional.