The third
Sunday of
Advent, so called from the first word of the
Introit at Mass (
Gaudete, i.e. Rejoice). The season of
Advent originated as a fast of forty days in preparation for
Christmas, commencing on the day after the feast of St. Martin (12 November), whence it was often called "St. Martin's Lent"-- a name by which it was known as early as the fifth century. The introduction of the
Advent fast cannot be placed much earlier, because there is no evidence of
Christmas being kept on 25 …
[Plus]