Laetare Sunday

This Sunday gets its name from the first few words (incipit) of the traditional Latin entrance verse (Introit) for the Mass of the day.

The full Introit reads:[2][3] Laetare Jerusalem et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam; gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis, ut exsultetis et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae.

[6] The station church at Rome for this day was Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, one of the seven chief basilicas; the Golden Rose, sent by Popes to Catholic sovereigns, used to be blessed at this time and for this reason the day was sometimes called Dominica de Rosa.

[10] The term "rose" is used to describe this lighter shade of the color violet in the Roman Rite.

The earliest occurrence of Laetare Sunday in the twenty-first century was on 2 March 2008,[14] and the latest will be on 4 April 2038.

The incipit for the Gregorian chant introit from which Laetare Sunday gets its name
Rose chasuble (Sunday Gaudete and Laetare), formerly Speyer Cathedral, now Stiftskirche Neustadt/Weinstraße
The Anglican Bishop of Willesden (London), wearing rose-pink vestments on Laetare Sunday, accompanied by three of his priests, also in rose-pink stoles, at North Acton parish church
Laetare Sunday and other named days and day ranges around Lent and Easter in Western Christianity, with the fasting days of Lent numbered