Dear Good Samaritans,

On Sunday we celebrate Laetare Sunday. This day has celebrated a lot historically. It was dedicated as a day to relax the rigorous fasting and disciple of Lent.

The name Laetare comes from the first word of the entrance text for the Latin Mass. Laetare means “rejoice.” The full text of the day is: “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her.” The text itself is from Isaiah 66:10. It is a day for us to rejoice!

It is the midpoint Sunday between the first Sunday of Lent and Easter and has been aptly called Mid-Lent Sunday. In her wisdom, the church decided that people needed a little pick-me-up at that point to get them through to Easter. It was a day when weddings, traditionally banned during Lent, were allowed to take place. Other celebrations and festivities took place as well. For this reason, along with Gaudete Sunday in Advent, it was also known as Refreshment Sunday. It was a day to remember joy in an otherwise somber season.

This day has also been called Mothering Sunday, particularly in the United Kingdom. Mothering Sunday was a yearly day that you would return to your mother church, the church where you were baptized; literally the church that gave birth to your new life as a Christian. At one point in 20th century England, this tradition of Mothering Sunday was revived and given additional meaning as a way to honor the Virgin Mary (mother of Jesus) and also Mother Earth. The day was seen as an opportunity to combat the American secularism that was seen in Mother’s Day.

As a reminder of the change in tone of the day the traditional liturgical color changes as well. The Lenten purple becomes pink! Technically, rose. And so has also been known by the name Rose Sunday.

Whether you want to call it Laetare, Mid-Lent, Refreshment, Mothering, Rose, or just the fourth Sunday in Lent remember to rejoice.

Find joy in the world around you.

Do something that revives your soul.

That is what the day is for!