Exiit qui seminat

The 4th Sunday of Lent has always had a special liturgical significance: It's Lætare Sunday, a Latin exultation which translates "Rejoice!". Like its Advent counterpart, Gaudete Sunday, we focus on the fact that our Lenten journey is coming to a close. In the midst of a penitential season the clergy have the option to wear Rose (or Pink) colored vestments as the Church briefly anticipates the joy of Easter. But there is another extremely symbolic gesture that goes with the 4th Sunday of Lent: the blessing of a golden rose. Since the 11th century, popes have blessed a rose made of gold and conferred them on churches, shrines and individuals as a sign of appreciation for exemplary practice of Catholicism and, of late, given as a special honor to various shrines dedicated to the Blessed Mother honoring the Queen of Heaven.  The rose is chock full of symbolism reminding us of the glorious majesty of the Resurrection, its fragrance speaks to how faith in Christ should be spread far and wide, the thorns and the red tint of the pedals point to our Lord's Passion. Pope Francis has given 7 Golden Roses during his pontificate to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, the Santuario della Consolata in Turin, Italy, the Black Madonna of Częstochowa in Poland, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima in Portugal, the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, Our Lady of Csíksomlyó in Romania, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Slovakia. So as we look at the rose-colored vestments this weekend, let us not forget the symbol of the Golden Rose and turn our eyes towards the joy of Easter, rejoicing in what our Lord has done for us out of love!

Fr. Rob Sinatra