December 15
Tuesday after the 3rd Sunday of Advent
Tuesday in the Third Week of Advent
Today marks the Tuesday after the Third Sunday of Advent, a feria within the sacred season of preparation for the Lord’s Nativity. During this week, the liturgy places special emphasis on penance, hope, and longing for the coming Messiah. In this period, the Church intensifies her prayers, inviting the faithful to reflect on the prophecies concerning Christ’s advent and to prepare their hearts through works of repentance and spiritual renewal. The liturgical color violet serves as a stark reminder of the penitential nature of this time, while also pointing to the royal dignity of the Christ who is to come. The readings and prayers of this day, while not specific to a saint, continue to build on the spiritual themes of Advent—watchfulness, expectation, and patience in awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promises. By observing this feria, the Church offers the faithful a quiet moment to deepen their interior preparation, sanctify their daily lives, and gaze more intently toward the imminent celebration of Jesus’ birth.
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Questions about Tuesday after the 3rd Sunday of Advent (Vetus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
IntroitPhil 4:4-6
Latin
Phil 4:4-6
Gaudéte in Dómino semper: íterum dico, gaudéte. Modéstia vestra nota sit ómnibus homínibus: Dóminus enim prope est. Nihil sollíciti sitis: sed in omni oratióne petitiónes vestræ innotéscant apud Deum.
Ps 84:2
Benedixísti, Dómine, terram tuam: avertísti captivitátem Iacob.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Gaudéte in Dómino semper: íterum dico, gaudéte. Modéstia vestra nota sit ómnibus homínibus: Dóminus enim prope est. Nihil sollíciti sitis: sed in omni oratióne petitiónes vestræ innotéscant apud Deum.
English
Phil. 4:4-6
Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men: for the Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in everything, by prayer let your petitions be made known to God.
Ps 84:2
You have favored, O Lord, Your land; You have restored the well-being of Jacob.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men: for the Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in everything, by prayer let your petitions be made known to God.
Collect
Latin
Aurem tuam, quǽsumus, Dómine, précibus nostris accómmoda: et mentis nostræ ténebras, grátia tuæ visitatiónis illústra:
Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre, in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Lend Your ear to our prayers, O Lord, we beseech You; and brighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of Your coming.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen
LessonPhilipp 4:4-7
Latin
Lectio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Philippénses
Philipp 4:4-7
Fratres: Gaudéte in Dómino semper: íterum dico, gaudéte. Modéstia vestra nota sit ómnibus homínibus: Dóminus prope est. Nihil sollíciti sitis: sed in omni oratióne et obsecratióne, cum gratiárum actióne, petitiónes vestræ innotéscant apud Deum. Et pax Dei, quæ exsúperat omnem sensum, custódiat corda vestra et intellegéntias vestras, in Christo Iesu, Dómino nostro.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Philippians
Phil 4:4-7
Brethren: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 79:2
Latin
Ps 79:2; 79:3; 79:2
Qui sedes, Dómine, super Chérubim, éxcita poténtiam tuam, et veni.
℣. Qui regis Israël, inténde: qui dedúcis, velut ovem, Ioseph.
English
Ps 79:2-3, 2
From Your throne, O Lord, upon the Cherubim, rouse Your power, and come.
℣. O Shepherd of Israel, hearken, O Guide of the flock of Joseph!
GospelIoann 1:19-28
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Ioann 1:19-28
In illo tempore: Misérunt Iudǽi ab Ierosólymis sacerdótes et levítas ad Ioánnem, ut interrogárent eum: Tu quis es? Et conféssus est, et non negávit: et conféssus est: Quia non sum ego Christus. Et interrogavérunt eum: Quid ergo? Elías es tu? Et dixit: Non sum. Prophéta es tu? Et respondit: Non. Dixérunt ergo ei: Quis es, ut respónsum demus his, qui misérunt nos? Quid dicis de te ipso? Ait: Ego vox clamántis in desérto: Dirígite viam Dómini, sicut dixit Isaías Prophéta. Et qui missi fúerant, erant ex pharisǽis. Et interrogavérunt eum, et dixérunt ei: Quid ergo baptízas, si tu non es Christus, neque Elías, neque Prophéta? Respóndit eis Ioánnes, dicens: Ego baptízo in aqua: médius autem vestrum stetit, quem vos nescítis. Ipse est, qui post me ventúrus est, qui ante me factus est: cuius ego non sum dignus ut solvam eius corrígiam calceaménti. Hæc in Bethánia facta sunt trans Iordánem, ubi erat Ioánnes baptízans.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
John 1:19-28
At that time, the Jews sent to John from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who are you? And he acknowledged and did not deny; and he acknowledged, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Are you Elias? And he said, I am not. Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No. They therefore said to him, Who are you? that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say of yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as said Isaias the prophet. And they who had been sent were from among the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him, Why, then, do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elias, nor the Prophet? John said to them in answer, I baptize with water; but in the midst of you there has stood One Whom you do not know. He it is Who is to come after me, Who has been set above me, the strap of Whose sandal I am not worthy to loose. These things took place at Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
OffertoryPs 84:2
Latin
Ps 84:2
Benedixísti, Dómine, terram tuam: avertísti captivitátem Iacob: remisísti iniquitatem plebis tuæ.
English
Ps 84:2
You have favored, O Lord, Your land; You have restored the well-being of Jacob. You have forgiven the guilt of Your people.
Secret
Latin
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionIs 35:4
Latin
Is 35:4.
Dícite: pusillánimes, confortámini et nolíte timére: ecce, Deus noster véniet et salvábit nos.
English
Isa 35:4
Say to those who are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is our God, He comes to save us.
Post Communion
Latin
Implorámus, Dómine, cleméntiam tuam: ut hæc divína subsídia, a vítiis expiátos, ad festa ventúra nos prǽparent.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
We entreat You, merciful Lord, that these divine helps may cleanse us from our sins and prepare us for the coming festal season.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium