Laetare Sunday (Church Latin: ; Classical Latin: ; English: ) is the fourth Sunday and "half-way point" in the season of Lent, in the Western Christian liturgical calendar. Traditionally, this Sunday has been a day of celebration within the austere period of Lent. This Sunday gets its name from the first few words () of the traditional Latin entrance verse (Introit) for the Mass of the day. ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem") is Latin from Isaiah 66:10.
The term Laetare Sunday is used by Catholics in the Latin Church,Brown, S. K. M., Laetare Sunday and our Lenten journey, Catholic News Herald, published on 15 March 2023, accessed on 15 March 2026 and some Lutheran, and Anglican denominations. The Latin is an imperative: "rejoice!"
Alternative names This Sunday is currently also known as Mothering Sunday, Refreshment Sunday, mid-Lent Sunday (in French ) and Rose Sunday (either because the golden rose sent by Popes to Catholic sovereigns used to be blessed at this time, or because the use of rose-colored rather than violet vestments was permitted on this day).
Historically, the day was also known as "the Sunday of the Five Loaves", from the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Before the adoption of the modern "common lectionaries", this narrative was the traditional Gospel reading for this Sunday in Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Old Catholic churches.
Prayers The full Introit reads: Psalm: Rejoice ye with Jerusalem; and be ye glad for her, all ye that delight in her: exult and sing for joy with her, all ye that in sadness mourn for her; that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations.Psalm: I was glad when they said unto me, We will go into the house of the Lord.
The text of the chant comes from Isaiah 66:10–11 and Psalms 121:1.
History The station church at Rome for this day was Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, one of the seven chief basilicas; the Golden Rose, sent by Popes to Catholic sovereigns, used to be blessed at this time and for this reason the day was sometimes called Dominica de Rosa.Michael Phelps, Du Fay's Hymn Cycle and Papal Liturgy during the Pontificate of Eugene IV. Musica Disciplina 54 (2009), pp. 75-117
Customs
On Mothering Sunday, Christians have historically visited their mother church—the church in which they received the sacrament of baptism.
In Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic churches flowers may appear on the high altar and the organ may be played as a solo instrument. Priests are given the option to wear rose-colored vestments at Mass held on this day in place of the violet vestments normally worn during Lent.The traditional use of rose-pink vestments on this day by Anglican clergy is suggested in the liturgical colour sequence notes of Common Worship of which an on-line version may be found here (see near bottom of page). The term "rose" is used to describe this lighter shade of the color violet in the Roman Rite.
The Sunday is considered a day of relaxation from normal Lenten rigours; a day of hope with Easter at last within sight. Traditionally, weddings (otherwise banned during Lent) could be performed on this day,See for example, Laetare Sunday extract and servants were released from service for the day to visit their mother church, the place in which they received the sacrament of baptism (hence 'Mothering Sunday').
Laetare Sunday is the date on which the recipient of University of Notre Dame's Laetare Medal is announced.
Date Laetare Sunday is exactly 21 days before Easter Sunday, a moveable feast based on the cycles of the moon. The date can be any between 1 March and 4 April inclusive; occurrence in April is considered to be uncommon; the last occurrence was on 3 April 2011 and the next will be on 4 April 2038, after which it will not occur again until 1 April 2057 – occurrences in April are printed in the below list in . The earliest occurrence of Laetare Sunday in the twenty-first century was on 2 March 2008, and the latest will be on 4 April 2038.
Laetare Sunday occurs on these dates in the twenty-first century:
2001 – 25 March 2002 – 10 March 2003 – 30 March 2004 – 21 March 2005 – 6 March 2006 – 26 March 2007 – 18 March 2008 – 2 March 2009 – 22 March 2010 – 14 March 2011 – 2012 – 18 March 2013 – 10 March 2014 – 30 March 2015 – 15 March 2016 – 6 March 2017 – 26 March 2018 – 11 March 2019 – 31 March 2020 – 22 March 2021 – 14 March 2022 – 27 March 2023 – 19 March 2024 – 10 March 2025 – 30 March 2026 – 15 March 2027 – 7 March 2028 – 26 March 2029 – 11 March 2030 – 31 March 2031 – 23 March 2032 – 7 March 2033 – 27 March 2034 – 19 March 2035 – 4 March 2036 – 23 March 2037 – 15 March 2038 – 2039 – 20 March 2040 – 11 March 2041 – 31 March 2042 – 16 March 2043 – 8 March 2044 – 27 March 2045 – 19 March 2046 – 4 March 2047 – 24 March 2048 – 15 March 2049 – 28 March 2050 – 20 March 2051 – 12 March 2052 – 31 March 2053 – 16 March 2054 – 8 March 2055 – 28 March 2056 – 12 March 2057 – 2058 – 24 March 2059 – 9 March 2060 – 28 March 2061 – 20 March 2062 – 5 March 2063 – 25 March 2064 – 16 March 2065 – 8 March 2066 – 21 March 2067 – 13 March 2068 – 2069 – 24 March 2070 – 9 March 2071 – 29 March 2072 – 20 March 2073 – 5 March 2074 – 25 March 2075 – 17 March 2076 – 29 March 2077 – 21 March 2078 – 13 March 2079 – 2080 – 17 March 2081 – 9 March 2082 – 29 March 2083 – 14 March 2084 – 5 March 2085 – 25 March 2086 – 10 March 2087 – 30 March 2088 – 21 March 2089 – 13 March 2090 – 26 March 2091 – 18 March 2092 – 9 March 2093 – 22 March 2094 – 14 March 2095 – 2096 – 25 March 2097 – 10 March 2098 – 30 March 2099 – 22 March 2100 – 7 March
See also Gaudete Sunday
References
Catholic Encyclopedia: "Laetare Sunday"