The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known by the first word of the Introit, the first chant of Mass, “Laetare … Rejoice”! This is one of two days in the year when we use rose (rosacea) coloured vestments. We momentarily relax the penitential character of our Lenten Sundays.
The tradition of rosacea vestments grows from the history of the Roman Stations. Sunday’s Station in Rome is the Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, where the Emperor Constantine’s mother St Helena placed relics of the Cross and Passion brought from the Holy Land. Here, on this day, popes blessed roses made of gold to be sent to distinguished sons and daughters of Holy Mother Church. Therefore Laetare was also nicknamed Rose Sunday. From this custom, rose-coloured vestments developed for this Sunday and then spilled over to the corresponding Gaudete Sunday in Advent.
