Laetare Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Lent
"Laetare Sunday", the Fourth Sunday in Lent, is filled with light and celebrated in joy. At the beginning of the Mass today, the Church commands us: "Rejoice!" (Laetare). The vestments for this day will be rose and flowers may even adorn the Altar! In England, this Sunday is known as Mothering Sunday, a custom that began during the Middle Ages, because the Epistle for the day said, "But Jerusalem which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all" [Galatians 4:26]. The Church is "Jerusalem which is above." On Lætare Sunday people went to Church where they were baptized (their mother church); and visited their own mothers, as well, often bringing gifts of flowers and simnel cakes (so-called because they were made with fine white flour, or simila.) There are many different recipes for this cake, but all are fruit-cakes covered with almond paste. Mothering Sunday is similar to the American Mother's Day, which is unrelated to Lent and was fi...