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The Breasts of Jerusalem: Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday in Lent)
The fourth Sunday in Lent marks the middle of Lent, and is commonly called “Laetare Sunday” from the traditional Latin Introit: “Laetare, Jerusalem; et conventum facite omnes, qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: at exsultetis et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus,” which translates:
“Rejoice Jerusalem, and meet together all you who love her; rejoice exceedingly, you who have been in sorrow, that you may leap for joy, and be satiated with comfort from her breasts. Ps. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord.”
The Introit recalls Zechariah 2:10 and Isaiah 66. Faithful Jerusalem is the daughter of Zion. Zion is a type of the Catholic Church and from this Holy Mother the Church, the faithful nurse like infant children. In the Introit, we are called to rejoice and find comfort at the breasts of Zion.
Notably, in the Latin missale prior to the Second Vatican Council, the epistle lesson was derived from Galatians 4. In fact, this passage is one of the few passages in the New Testament Vulgate that also uses the Latin word “laetare”:
But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free; which is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice {laetare}, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.
As I noted in my book The Catholic Perspective on Paul, this passage and its surrounding context is key in understanding that Paul comprehended the true Church as a “Mother.” Paul takes the Old Testament imagery of “Mother Zion” and applies it the true Church. This is a slam dunk for Catholics who find the fulfillment of Israel in the Catholic Church (see The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity
for more on this topic). Consequently, the traditional Latin prayers and readings for Laetare Sunday are a rich bouquet of Catholic ecclesiology. The Church is the archetype of “Mother Zion” of the Old Covenant.
for more on this topic). Consequently, the traditional Latin prayers and readings for Laetare Sunday are a rich bouquet of Catholic ecclesiology. The Church is the archetype of “Mother Zion” of the Old Covenant.The traditional Gospel reading is our Lord’s feeding of the 5,000 from St John’s Gospel. Why? Christ is in the wilderness and He feeds people miraculously. The theme of feeding at the breast continues here with Christ feeding the hungry mouths of Israel. All humans have experienced hunger and we find that Christ’s feeding ministry and the Church’s feeding ministry are one and the same. To be fed by Christ is to be fed by the Church.
The true nutrition is not bread alone, but the Word of God.
Of course, all this becomes even more significant when we contemplate how these prayers and readings are smack in the middle of Lent. Lent is a time of fasting – a time of not eating. Yet here in the middle of Lent we are reminded that Christ through our Mother the Church feeds us. The image of a child nursing at the breasts of his mother and that of a miraculous multiplication of loaves should remind us that we have “food to eat, which you know not” (Jn 4:32). The life of penance, fasting, almsgiving, and prayer feeds to the soul and prepares it for the the eternal beatific vision of God in eternity. This vision of God will truly be a feast for our eyes.
Happy Laetare Sunday!
Saint Bernard, one of my favorite saints, was fed from the breast of our Immaculate Mary after he said to her, “Show thyself my mother!” Note the mystical stream of milk entering his mouth…
The fourth Sunday in Lent marks the middle of Lent, and is commonly called “Laetare Sunday” from the traditional Latin Introit: “Laetare, Jerusalem; et conventum facite omnes, qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: at exsultetis et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus,” which translates:
“Rejoice Jerusalem, and meet together all you who love her; rejoice exceedingly, you who have been in sorrow, that you may leap for joy, and be satiated with comfort from her breasts. Ps. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord.”
The Introit recalls Zechariah 2:10 and Isaiah 66. Faithful Jerusalem is the daughter of Zion. Zion is a type of the Catholic Church and from this Holy Mother the Church, the faithful nurse like infant children. In the Introit, we are called to rejoice and find comfort at the breasts of Zion.
Notably, in the Latin missale prior to the Second Vatican Council, the epistle lesson was derived from Galatians 4. In fact, this passage is one of the few passages in the New Testament Vulgate that also uses the Latin word “laetare”:
But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free; which is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice {laetare}, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.
As I noted in my book The Catholic Perspective on Paul, this passage and its surrounding context is key in understanding that Paul comprehended the true Church as a “Mother.” Paul takes the Old Testament imagery of “Mother Zion” and applies it the true Church. This is a slam dunk for Catholics who find the fulfillment of Israel in the Catholic Church (see The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity for more on this topic). Consequently, the traditional Latin prayers and readings for Laetare Sunday are a rich bouquet of Catholic ecclesiology. The Church is the archetype of “Mother Zion” of the Old Covenant.
for more on this topic). Consequently, the traditional Latin prayers and readings for Laetare Sunday are a rich bouquet of Catholic ecclesiology. The Church is the archetype of “Mother Zion” of the Old Covenant.The traditional Gospel reading is our Lord’s feeding of the 5,000 from St John’s Gospel. Why? Christ is in the wilderness and He feeds people miraculously. The theme of feeding at the breast continues here with Christ feeding the hungry mouths of Israel. All humans have experienced hunger and we find that Christ’s feeding ministry and the Church’s feeding ministry are one and the same. To be fed by Christ is to be fed by the Church.
The true nutrition is not bread alone, but the Word of God.
Of course, all this becomes even more significant when we contemplate how these prayers and readings are smack in the middle of Lent. Lent is a time of fasting – a time of not eating. Yet here in the middle of Lent we are reminded that Christ through our Mother the Church feeds us. The image of a child nursing at the breasts of his mother and that of a miraculous multiplication of loaves should remind us that we have “food to eat, which you know not” (Jn 4:32). The life of penance, fasting, almsgiving, and prayer feeds to the soul and prepares it for the the eternal beatific vision of God in eternity. This vision of God will truly be a feast for our eyes.
Happy Laetare Sunday!
Saint Bernard, one of my favorite saints, was fed from the breast of our Immaculate Mary after he said to her, “Show thyself my mother!” Note the mystical stream of milk entering his mouth…
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