Laetare Sunday: The Fourth Sunday in Lent

“It’s rose,” Father Tully would say, “not pink.”

He always needed to say this before he started his homily on Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent. It was a great lead into the explanation of the day and I’ll bet he still says it even though he’s retired.

Laetare is Latin for rejoice. The entrance antiphon prolaims, “Rejoice, O Jerusalem!” Much like the third Sunday in Advent, which is known as ‘Little Lent,’ we rejoice as we get closer to the coming of the King of kings. It’s a reprieve from the quiet and somber atmosphere of the rest of Lent and it happens close to the Holy Week. We could think of it as a last burst of joy before the sobering events of the Triduum. Flowers are even allowed on the altar on this special day, unlike the rest of Lent. This little break grants a small preview of the joy to come at Easter.

Unlike Gaudete Sunday, which happens on the second to last Sunday of Advent, Laetare Sunday happens on the fourth of six Sundays. The very middle day of Lent is the Thursday before, so it’s not near the end but near the very middle. Other names this day has historically held is Refreshment Sunday, Sunday of the Five Loaves (for the gospel story), Mid-Lent, or Mothering Sunday since long ago the faithful made special offerings to Mother Church on this day.

While not required, many parishes choose to use the rose colored vestments and adornments on the altar as a break from the purple. It does help to give special note to the day apart from other days of Lent. Perhaps in these modern days when many are not fully conscious of their faith traditions, this makes for a nice visual lesson. Every year, the priest explains the reason for the change in color, contributing to the catechism which is much needed in parishes of the partially unchurched.

For those who understand the deeper meanings, we can let this be a reminder of the coming joys of our final Easter. I don’t mean the day on the calendar but the Joy we will receive when we one day come into His Heavenly Kingdom. We go this life full of suffering, offering penance and alms and prayer as we can, in the hopes of seeing His Face and receiving our ultimate gift of eternal life. Let us continue to pray for the conversion of sinners (ourselves included) so that we may all experience laetare in unity with each other and our Lord.