Laetare Sunday

Laetare Sunday — The fourth Sunday in Lent (Mid-Lent) derives its Latin name from the first word of the Mass text, “Laetare Jerusalem” (Rejoice, OJerusalem). It is a day of joy within the mourning season. The altars may be decorated with flowers, organ playing is permitted, and the priests may wear rose-colored vestments instead of purple. The reason for such display of joy is explained in a sermon by Pope Innocent III (1216):

On this Sunday, which marks the middle of Lent, a measure of consoling relaxation is provided, so that the faithful may not break down under the severe strain of Lenten fast but may continue to bear the restrictions with a refreshed and easier heart.³¹

As a symbol of this joy the popes used to carry a golden rose in their right hand when returning from the celebration of Mass. Pope Leo IX (1051) calls this custom an “ancient institution.” Originally it was a single rose of natural size, but since the fifteenth century it has consisted of a cluster or branch of roses wrought of pure gold and set with precious stones in brilliant workmanship by famous artists. The popes bless it every year, and often they confer it upon churches, shrines, cities, or distinguished persons as a token of esteem and paternal affection. In case of such a bestowal, a new rose is made during the subsequent year.

The meaning and symbolism of the golden rose is expressed in the prayer of blessing. It represents Christ in the shining splendor of His majesty, the “flower sprung from the root of Jesse.” From this ecclesiastical custom Laetare Sunday acquired its German name, Rosensonntag (Sunday of the Rose).

In this country Laetare Sunday receives much publicity in the papers because of Notre Dame’s bestowal each year (since 1883) of the Laetare Medal on an American lay Catholic distinguished in literature, art, science, philanthropy, sociology, or other field of achievement. It is an adaptation of the papal custom of the golden rose, and the medal is made of heavy gold and black enamel tracings bearing the inscription “Magna est veritas et praevalebit (Truth is mighty and shall prevail). It is suspended from a bar on which is lettered “Laetare Medal.”

In England a charming tradition developed toward the end of the Middle Ages. On Laetare or Mid-Lent Sunday, boys and girls who lived away from home (as apprentices, servants, etc.) were given permission to go home to visit their mother church, in which they were baptized or had been brought up. They always carried with them gifts to put on the altar. The original reason for this was because the first words of the Mass, “Laetare Jerusalem” were considered in medieval times to be addressed to the “second Jerusalem” (the Church). And as the Jews called Jerusalem “Mother Jerusalem,” so the Christians later called the church which gave them spiritual birth in baptism, “Mother Church.” It was also the custom for the boys and girls to visit their own mother on the same day. They brought her flowers and simnel cakes (a rich plum cake; from simila, fine flour) and would do all the housework for her. This old custom still survives in certain parts of England, and the cakes are sold in London as well as provincial towns. Hence the name “Mothering Sunday” and the famous old saying, “He who goes a-mothering finds violets in the lane.” An ancient carol entitled “Mothering Sunday” (It Is the Day of All the Year) may be found in the Oxford Book of Carols.³² The tune is taken from an old German song of the fourteenth century. Robert Herrick (1674) mentioned the custom in his poem To Dianeme:

I’ll to thee a simnel bring
‘Gainst thou go’st a-mothering,
So that when she blesseth thee,
Half that blessing thou’lt give me.

Our own Mother’s Day, first celebrated in May 1914, does not have either the same origin or historical background, but the central idea of bestowing special favors and little gifts on our mothers in appreciation and love is similar. In many churches sermons are devoted on that day to the greatest mother of all, the Blessed Mother, Mary.

Mid-Lent — The week from the Wednesday before to the Wednesday after Laetare is called “Mid-Lent” in most countries. It is a time of many popular customs and traditions, most of them connected with ancient spring lore. In Germany and among the northern Slavic nations the “burial of winter” is celebrated in rural sections. In Poland children carry the effigy of a stork through the village; thus they greet the return of the bird as a harbinger of the approaching summer. In France and Canada, Mid-Lent is kept with a joyous meal and entertainment in the home. A rite performed in central and southern Europe is the decoration of wells and fountains with branches and flowers, to celebrate their final liberation from winter’s ice. Laetare Sunday is called Fontana (Sunday of Fountains) in parts of Italy and France because of this.

In Germany, Austria, and among the Western Slavs, Laetare Sunday used to be the day of announcing the engagements of young people (Liebstatt Sonntag; Druzebna). In Bohemia the boys would send messengers to the homes of their girl friends to deliver the solemn proposal. In Austria the girls of the village lined up in front of the church after Mass; their boy friends would take them by the hand and lead them back into the house of God, and thus “propose” to them by a silent act of religious import. After having prayed together, the couple would seal their engagement with a special meal. It is a curious fact that these engagement customs were called “Valentine,” although they did not take place on Saint Valentine’s day. The name is explained by the fact that Saint Valentine was the heavenly patron of young lovers and engaged couples.

In Ireland not only Mid-Lent but the whole season of Lent is the traditional time of matchmaking (cleamhnas). The older people visit each other’s homes to discuss the possibilities of matching their sons and daughters. Among the young generation, there is much fun poked at those not yet married. In olden times the roisterers (practical jokers) would try to tie a rope around unmarried men and girls in the days before Lent, and “drag them off to the Skellig,” a place associated with wedding rites in ancient times. In some parts of Ireland weddings are held only on Easter Sunday, after the last preparations have been made during Lent.

Wednesday of the fourth week in Lent is called “Middle Cross Day” in the Greek Church (Russians, Ukrainians, Serbs, Greeks, etc.); it is a tradition to bake little cakes shaped in the form of a cross, which have to be eaten on this day.