LAETARE SUNDAY – THE SUNDAY OF THE FIVE LOAVES; FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT -14th MARCH

 LAETARE SUNDAY – THE SUNDAY OF THE FIVE LOAVES

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
14th MARCH



I continue with the presentation of Dom Prosper Gueranger’s description of the solemnity of Laetare Sunday and its traditions (1):
“We now come to the explanation of another name given to the fourth Sunday of Lent, which was suggested by the Gospel of the day. We find this Sunday called in several ancient documents, the Sunday of the five loaves. The miracle alluded to in this title not only forms an essential portion of the Church’s instructions during Lent, but it is also an additional element of today’s joy. We forget for an instant the coming Passion of the Son of God, to give our attention to the greatest of the benefits He has bestowed on us; for under the figure of these loaves multiplied by the power of Jesus, our faith sees that bread which came down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. ‘The Pasch’, says our Evangelist, ‘was near at hand’; and, in a few days, our Lord will say to us: ‘With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you’. Before leaving this world to go to His Father, Jesus desires to feed the multitude that follows Him; and, in order to do this, He displays His omnipotence. Well may we admire that creative power, which feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, and in such wise that even after all have partaken of the feast as much as they would, there remain fragments enough to fill twelve baskets. Such a miracle is indeed, an evident proof of Jesus’ mission; but He intends it as a preparation for something far more wonderful; He intends it as a figure and as a pledge of what He is soon to do, not merely once or twice, but every day, even to the end of time; not only for five thousand men, but for the countless multitude of believers. Think of the millions who, this very year, are to partake of the banquet of the Pasch; and yet, He whom we have seen born in Bethlehem (the house of bread) is to be the nourishment of all these guests; neither will the divine Bread fail. We are to feast as did our fathers before us; and the generations that are to follow us, shall be invited as we are now, to come and taste how sweet is the Lord.”
Dom Prosper Gueranger OSB, “The Liturgical Year, Volume V- Lent” Loreto Publications, Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire AD 2013, at pp. 316-317.

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