Gaudete! Semper gaudete!

Pink candle Sunday in Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. This is the (plural) command to rejoice in Latin. This was one of the readings this past week. It's a tough one when things are as crazy as they are. Semper (like in Semper Fidelis) means always (Fidelis is faithful, also in this passage). As in, always! Not so easy sometimes, but it's important to try. There are many reasons to rejoice, but the coming of Jesus (and Christmas) is the best one! 

There are lots of words in the Latin here which are recognizable to English speakers.  Intermissione - a break, respite.  omnibus -  everything (like an omnibus bill).  Gratias - giving thanks.  Voluntas - will, as in when you volunteer to do something of your own will.  Spiritum (spiritus) - the Spirit.  Prophetias - prophetic.  Abstinete (plural command - this passage is full of them) as in abstinence.  Specie - type, kind, as in species.  Pacis - peace.  Santificet - sanctify.  Omnia - entirely.  Anima et corpus - soul and body. adventu Domini nostri Iesu Christi- the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Advent).

In the Greek you have ευχαριστειτε, the plural command to rejoice, as in eucharist.  πνευμα, the Spirit (as in pneumatic - air and spirit being related, as in respiration...).  παντος - all (pantaphobia?).  σωμα - body (psycho-somatic).

These are just the words someone with almost no studying can recognize.  There are many other good things to learn here as well, of course.  You need to know the Greek alphabet though!

First new words for new learners:  et is Latin for 'and'.  'And' is και (rhymes with my) in Greek.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 

16.	Rejoice always;	παντοτε χαιρετε	Semper gaudete,
17.	pray without ceasing;	αδιαλειπτως προσευχεσθε	sine intermissione orate,
18.	in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.	εν παντι ευχαριστειτε τουτο γαρ θελημα θεου εν χριστω ιησου εις υμας	in omnibus gratias agite; haec enim voluntas Dei est in Christo Iesu erga vos.
19.	Do not quench the Spirit;	το πνευμα μη σβεννυτε	Spiritum nolite exstinguere,
20.	do not despise prophetic utterances.	προφητειας μη εξουθενειτε	prophetias nolite spernere;
21.	But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;	παντα δοκιμαζετε το καλον κατεχετε	omnia autem probate, quod bonum est tenete,
22.	abstain from every form of evil.	απο παντος ειδους πονηρου απεχεσθε	ab omni specie mala abstinete vos.
23.	Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.	αυτος δε ο θεος της ειρηνης αγιασαι υμας ολοτελεις και ολοκληρον υμων το πνευμα και η ψυχη και το σωμα αμεμπτως εν τη παρουσια του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου τηρηθειη	Ipse autem Deus pacis sanctificet vos per omnia, et integer spiritus vester et anima et corpus sine querela in adventu Domini nostri Iesu Christi servetur.
24.	Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.	πιστος ο καλων υμας ος και ποιησει	Fidelis est, qui vocat vos, qui etiam faciet.