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``Where the Bishop is, there let the multitude of believers be;
even as where Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church'' Ignatius of Antioch, 1st c. A.D


4th Sunday of Lent
(Laetare Sunday)


 

The fourth Sunday of Lent is rather unique; like the third Sunday of Advent ("Gaudete Sunday"), the fourth Sunday of Lent is a break in an otherwise penitential season. The vestments for this day will be rose, as they are on Gaudete Sunday in Advent, and flowers may adorn the Altar. This day is called "Laetare Sunday" (also "Rose Sunday" ), and takes its name from the opening words of the Mass, the Introit's "Laetare, Jerusalem":
 

Laetare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. (Psalm) Laetatus sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. Gloria Patri.

       

Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. (Psalm) I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.

 
The Gospel reading will be John 6:1-15, on the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes -- symbols of the Eucharist to come in 18 days (on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week). Note the language used in St. Matthew's account -- and in the consecration of the Mass:

Matthew 15:36
And taking the seven loaves and the fishes, and giving thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the people.

And from the Mass:

Who, the day before He suffered, took bread into His Holy and venerable hands, and having lifted up His eyes to heaven, to Thee, God, His Almighty Father, giving thanks to Thee, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take and eat ye all of this.

And after the miracle of the loaves and fishes, this is what happens, according to John's Gospel:

John 6:12-13
And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten.

"Gather up the fragments lest they be lost," He said to them. And the Twelve did, symbolizing their future ordinations, their being given to power to feed His sheep with His Body and Blood as foreshadowed in the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

 
Customs

Laetare Sunday is also known as "Mothering Sunday" because of the Epistle reading that speaks of how not the Jews because of their DNA, but all those who come to Christ -- Jewish or not, regardless of their ancestry --are the inheritors of Abraham's promise:

Galatians 4:22-31
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar: For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now. But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.

The old practice of visiting the parish in which one was baptized (or the cathedral of one's diocese) on this day is another reason for the name, since it is by baptism that we become children of the Church. In England, natural mothers are honored today, too, in a manner rather like the American Mother's Day, which is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Violets and spring bulb flowers (daffodils, for ex.) are given to mothers, and simnel cake is made to celebrate the occasion -- a very rich way to break the Lenten fast. The word "simnel" comes from the Latin "simila," a high grade flour:

Simnel Cake

Almond Paste:
9 ounces white sugar
9 ounces ground almonds
2 pieces large eggs, at room temperature

Combine all ingredients in a mixer. Once you’ve got a rough dough, knead it by hand for a minute to smooth it into a silky paste. Divide this in to three, wrap in plastic wrap and set aside.

Cake:
6 ounces butter, at room temperature
6 ounces golden caster sugar (or 3oz white sugar and 3oz light brown sugar)
3 pieces large eggs, at room temperature
6 ounces all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
12 ounces dried fruit (such as sultanas, golden raisins, and currants)
2 ounces glace cherries
2 to 3 tablespoons orange zest
18 ounces marzipan, divided into 3, for the topping
3 ounces apricot preserves

Preheat the oven to 300F. Grease and line the sides and bottom of an 8-inch cake pan.

Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs and the flour alternately, scraping down the mixer to combine. Stir in the cinnamon, dried fruit, glace cherries, and orange zest.

Take a third of the almond paste and roll it into an 8-inch disk and set aside.

Spoon half the cake mixture into the pan. Top with the marzipan disk. Spoon rest of cake batter over disk and smooth the top. Make a double layer of parchment paper, place on top of cake pan and tie in place with twine. Then make a quarter-sized hole in the middle of the parchment to allow steam to escape. Bake for 2 1/2 hours or so until the top is browned and springs back when touched. Let cool.

Take another third of your almond paste and roll into another 8-inch disk. Spread some apricot jam over the top of the cake and top with the disk. Take the final third of the almond paste and make 11 equal sized balls to represent each of the 12 Apostles minus Judas. Place the balls evenly around the perimeter of the cake, keeping them in place with more apricot preserves. Broil the cake very briefly to make the balls golden (or use a blow torch).


The Golden Rose



 
The rose vestments on Laetare Sunday is a custom originating in the fact that, as a symbol of joy and hope in the middle of this somber season, popes used to carry a golden rose in their right hand when returning from the celebration of Mass on this day (way back in 1051, Pope Leo IX called this custom an "ancient institution.")

Originally it was natural rose, then a single golden rose of natural size, but since the fifteenth century it has consisted of a cluster or branch of roses wrought of pure gold in brilliant workmanship by famous artists. The popes bless at least one every year, and often confer it upon churches, shrines, cities, or distinguished persons as a token of esteem and paternal affection.

The golden rose represents Christ in the shining splendor of His majesty, the "flower sprung from the root of Jesse," and it is blessed with these words:

O God! by Whose word and power all things have been created, by Whose will all things are directed, we humbly beseech Thy Majesty, Who art the joy and gladness of all the faithful, that Thou wouldst deign in Thy fatherly love to bless and sanctify this rose, most delightful in odor and appearance, which we this day carry in sign of spiritual joy, in order that the people consecrated by Thee and delivered from the yoke of Babylonian slavery through the favor of Thine only-begotten Son, Who is the glory and exultation of the people of Israel and of that Jerusalem which is our Heavenly mother, may with sincere hearts show forth their joy. Wherefore, O Lord, on this day, when the Church exults in Thy name and manifests her joy by this sign, confer upon us through her true and perfect joy and accepting her devotion of today; do Thou remit sin, strengthen faith, increase piety, protect her in Thy mercy, drive away all things adverse to her and make her ways safe and prosperous, so that Thy Church, as the fruit of good works, 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 musk and balsam and then places them inside the cup of the largest rose. Then the entire rose is incensed and sprinkled with holy water.

Note: you can remember to differentiate between Advent's Gaudete Sunday and Lent's Laetare Sunday -- the two "rose vestment" Sundays -- by remembering that Laetare Sunday comes in Lent, both of which begin with the letter "L."


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