LAETARE SUNDAY - THE GOLDEN ROSE; FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 14th MARCH
LAETARE SUNDAY - THE GOLDEN ROSE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 14th MARCH Golden Rose of Minucchio da Siena (1330) given by Pope John XXIII to Rudolph III of Nidau, Count of Neuchatel. (John XXIII was an anti-Pope and is said to have been "worthless in spiritual things"). Golden Rose of the Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel - given by Pope Benedict XVI on 15th May 2011. Dom Prosper Gueranger describes the solemnity of Laetare Sunday and its traditions (1): “This Sunday, called from the first word of the Introit, Laetare Sunday, is one of the most solemn of the year. The Church interrupts her Lenten mournfulness; the chants of the Mass speak of nothing but joy and consolation; the organ, which has been silent during the preceding three Sundays, now gives forth its melodious voice; the deacon resumes his dalmatic, and the sub-deacon his tunic; and instead of purple, rose-coloured vestments are allowed to be used. These same rites were practised in Advent, on the third Sunday, c...