A beautiful advent tradition Bambinelli Sunday, Blessing The Christ Child

The beautiful Advent Tradition, Bambinelli Sunday, was instituted by Saint Pope John Paul II during his Papacy. The tradition follows that on the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) children and adults bring their Baby Jesus figures from their homes to St Peters Square where they are blessed by the Pope. Then, following the Sunday Angelus address, the Holy Father blesses the statues of Baby Jesus which the children will take back to homes to be placed under their Christmas trees ..

All children and families are invited to bring the Baby Jesus figure from their homes to be blessed. Families can make their own 'Bambinelli' if they wish.  Pope Francis has continued the tradition, blessing the statuettes which children bring before him in the Square. Parishes around the world now join in the cele-bration, encouraging young children to make the connection between the Nativity set at home and the local church where they worship each weekend.

"It helps children and young people to prepare for Jesus."

A suggestion is, following the blessing, take your 'Bambinelli' home, wrap it and open it as a family on Christmas morning where the youngest member of the family would place it in the crib.

A gift of the presence of Christ in your home this Christmas.

This year we will celebrate 'Bambinelli Sunday' on December the 17th.

On Bambinelli Sunday, Pope Francis has a message for children "Dear Children, listen carefully:

When you pray before your Nativity Seen, remember to pray also for me as I shall remember you. I

thank you heartily-and have a Merry Christmas."

Gaudete Sunday

The third Sunday of advent is called Gaudete Sunday, the day when we light the pink candle on the advent wreath (hence the 'pink candle' Sunday). Rose vestments are worn to emphasise our joy that Christmas is near.  Guadete means "rejoice". This day reminds us of the joy that is to come, and serves, amid this season of penance, as a kind of "break" when we recall the hope we have because of the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.