A very joyous Laetare Sunday to all our readers, a day on which we can partake in some way in the joy of Easter in this half-way mark through Lent. The austere violet is softened to rose, as a prelude to the Resurrection, before we enter into the time of the Passion. The name derives from the first word in the Introit in Latin, ‘Rejoice, Jerusalem..’.
So indeed, rejoice, for the Lord has redeemed us, and we are a people of hope. I was intrigued to discover from a British colleague buying gifts for his wife that today is Mother’s Day in England, derived from the tradition of allowing servants in manors the day off to visit their Mums. Quite fitting.
Lætare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum lætitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestræ. Psalm: Lætatus sum in his quæ dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus.”
“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 I rejoiced when they said to me ‘we shall into God’s house!’.
Earth hour is this evening, beginning at 8:30, I believe, when we are supposed to turn our lights out in honour of the ‘environment’, signifying in some subtle – or not so subtle – way that using electricity is somehow a ‘bad thing’. Not so. We have been sent to subdue the Earth, in moderation and virtue, and use it for our purposes, so lights on, amici mei.
As God said, fiat lux, et lux erat.