The Fourth Sunday of Lent is also known as Laetare Sunday. The Latin title is derived from the prophet Isaiah (Is 66:10-11) wherein the imperative verb rejoice becomes the English word for laetare. Though its origin is ambiguous, this day’s easing of the Lenten practices probably originated as a celebration of the catechumens who were preparing to be baptized and enter the Church on Easter. Whether in the early centuries of the Church or even today, the catechumens, now known as the Elect, undergo the second of the three scrutinies—liturgical rites of repentance and preparation—on Laetare Sunday.
In the first centuries, after a long period of instruction, which was both practical and doctrinal, the immediate part of their instruction consisted in explanations of the Creed, a practice known as the Traditio Symboli or “the delivery or handing over of the Creed. The delivery (Lat. traditio) was made by those who were instructing those seeking to be baptized and, during the Fourth Week of Lent, who received the Creed into their possession. Then, when those adults were finally getting baptized, the were required to recite and profess the Creed designated as returning (Lat. redditio symboli) the articles of the Creed by professing the Creed that they had committed to memory.
Even today, those preparing for full initiation into the Church on Easter customarily are presented with the Apostles’ Creed or the Symbol of the Apostles (Lat. Symbolum Apostolorum) as a reminder of the faith that they would soon profess and receive at the Easter Vigil. As the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) says, the Creed “recalls the wonderful deeds of God for the salvation of the human race…” (RCIA, n.147). The catechumens (or Elect) are expected to commit the Creed to memory and it will be publicly recited, usually on Holy Saturday, before the Easter Vigil. Then, during the fifth week of Lent, the Elect will be presented with the Lord’s Prayer and the reason for doing so is crucial, “The Lord’s Prayer fills them with a deeper realization of the new spirit of adoption by which they will call God their Father, especially in the midst of the eucharistic assembly” (RCIA, n.147).
In regard to the already-baptized or cradle-Catholics, Laetare Sunday is something more than having the priest wear rose vestments. This Sunday marks the almost-center of Lent, a day of gentle celebration. Try and picture Lent as a hill, where Ash Wednesday is at the bottom of one side of the hill and Easter Sunday is the bottom of the other side of the hill. So, Laetare Sunday marks the time when you are at the top of that imaginary hill and can finally look down and see Easter. The exact middle of Lent falls on the Thursday before Laetare Sunday, but a variety of liturgical developments, over the intervening centuries, have made the Fourth Sunday of Lent its mid-point.
One of the principal reasons that this day has unique significance is to offer the Elect and observant Catholics and all those who have been diligently making sacrifices up to this point, a sort of intermission or break in order to realize with joy that the halfway point of Lent has been crossed and that Easter is well on its way. Other lesser known customs are associated with this particular Sunday of Lent. In addition to the break from purple vestments, it has also been connected with the rose as a promise of joy, deriving from this biblical verse, “…and from his roots a bud shall blossom” (Is 11:1b). Thus, it has also been called Rose Sunday, so, in the stational Church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, the Holy Father blesses religious objects that make up a Golden Rose (It. Rosa d’Oro).
The contemporary custom of giving the rose supplanted the ancient practice of sending Catholic sovereigns, distinguished persons, governments or cities notable for their Catholic spirit and loyalty to the Holy See, or illustrious churches and sanctuaries the Golden Keys from St. Peter’s Confessional. Nowadays, instead of keys, the Rosa d’Oro is presented to significant Catholic churches or shrines throughout the world. In 2008, Benedict XVI bestowed a golden rose on the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. The blessing concludes with “… may unite in giving forth the perfume of the ointment of that flower sprung from the root of Jesse and which is the mystical flower of the field and lily of the valleys, and remain happy without end in eternal glory together with all the saints.” After the rose is blessed, the Pope incenses it with musk and balsam and then places those scents inside the cup of the largest rose.
In the joy-filled spirit of this day, try to pause and evaluate the success of your Lenten promises so far. Suggestion for Observing Laetare Sunday: Ponder any adjustments you feel that are needed to be made in your Lenten sacrifices. If you normally practice Lenten fasting on Sundays, consider taking a break from the fast on Laetare Sunday. Lent observed including Sundays is 46 days long; Lent excluding Sundays is 40 days long.
Nature and dignity 