The Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word to “Rejoice”.
The candle is rose-coloured, the liturgical colour for joy, and represents a relaxing of the penitential nature of Advent as the Church notes, with joyful anticipation, the nearness of Christ’s birth.
Often named the Saints’ Candle, lighting this candle also calls to mind for us the many saints who joyfully share in the life of Christ by being baptised into his Body the Church. Together with the saints that have gone before us, we rejoice in the knowledge that nothing can come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.
Phil 4:4-5