[Magdalen] Laetare Sunday.

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

The Introit chant for Lent 4:
 
 
 
"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. Psalm: _I rejoiced_ 
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_was_glad)  when they said to me: 'we shall go  into God's 
House!'" 
Lent 4 is already upon us, and those  parishes with rose vestments 
will get them out this  weekend. 
Back in the USA Midwest, "sacristy  rals" always arranged for 
altar flowers with red roses, of  which half had been gilded for the 
occasion. 
This action was rather overboard,  since it was originally the 
Patriarch of the West who presented  gilded roses to the reigning 
monarchs of Europe on this day, and  on the matching Advent 3 
(Gaudete Sunday). 
Might as well have a little fun in  Lent! 
David  S.