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Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord:
Our Lenten journey is nearing its end. Traditionally,
the Church has called this Laetare Sunday. It is derived from the
first words of the Introit at Mass, "Laetare
Jerusalem"--"Rejoice, O Jerusalem."
During the first six or seven centuries the season of Lent commenced on
the Sunday following Quinquagesima, (this is the 50th day before Easter)
and thus comprised only thirty-six fasting days. To these were
afterwards added the four days preceding the first Sunday, in order to
make up the forty days' fast.One of the earliestliturgical notices of
these extra days occurs in the special Gospels assigned to them in a
Toulon manuscript of 714. Strictly speaking, the Thursday before Laetare
Sunday is the middle day of Lent, and it was at one time observed as
such, but afterwards the special signs of joy permitted on this day,
intended to encourage the faithful in their course through the season of
penance, were transferred to the Sunday following. Like those of Gaudete
Sunday in Advent, the signs of joy consist of the use of flowers on the
altar, and of the organ musicat Mass and Vespers; rose-colored vestments
are also allowed instead of purple, and the deacon may wear dalmatics (a
special vestment).
The contrast between Laetare and the other Sundays is
thus emphasized, and is emblematical of the joys of this life,
restrained rejoicing mingled with a certain amount of somberness. The
station at Rome was on this day made at the church of Santa Croce in
Jerusalem, one of the seven chief basilicas; theGolden Rose, sent by the
popes to Catholic sovereigns, used to be blessed at this time, and for
this reason the day was sometimes called "Dominica de Rosa".Other names
applied to it were Refreshment Sunday, or the Sunday of the Five Loaves,
from a miracle recorded in the Gospel; Mid-Lent, mi-carême, or mediana;
and Mothering Sunday, in allusion to the Epistle, which indicates our
right to be called the sons and daughters of God as the source of all
ourjoy, and also because formerly the faithful used to make their
offerings in the cathedral or mother-church on this day. This
latter name is still kept up in some remote parts of England, though the
reason for it has ceased to exist.
May the Lord bless these days of our Lenten Journey.
Et Cetra….
Thanks to Father Dean for his presence with us last week
as we entered more purposefully into the Mysteries of God’s love for
each of us. I thank all who attended despite the nuisance of the
weather. Let’s hope that it was winter’s parting shot... and that spring
is finally on the way.
In honor of St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church
and my personal patron saint, I will offer Mass at 9am Saturday, March
15th. |
