Laetare Sunday

           

     Laetare Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Lent, and the name Laetare Sunday is taken from the words of the introit, laetare Jerusalem, "rejoice with Jerusalem." There is a joyful tone at this halfway point in the Lenten season. The vestments are often rose-colored (pink). Traditionally, the Apostles Creed is "handed over" to the catechumens, the last step for those preparing for Baptism.

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Laetare Sunday is also called Mothering Sunday, named because a person would visit his "mother church," another name for the church he grew up in, on this day. This day also became connected with visiting one's biological mother on Laetare Sunday. Various customs developed on this Sunday, including the baking of "mother cakes." These cakes are also called "simnel cakes," and sometimes the fourth Sunday of Lent is called Simnel Sunday.

3rd Sunday of Lent

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Lent! Has everyone been good on his/hers resolutions? Laetare Sunday is just a week away! Also, Joe and Amanda are coming home on Tuesday! More then!

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

Happy St. David's Day, all you Welsh lovers!

 Swords clashed as the men of Wales fought for hours to protect their land from the Saxon invaders.  But despite their efforts, the Welsh were slowly losing.  In the heat of the battle it was difficult to tell friend from foe.  The fact that both sides wore similar clothing made the fight all the more confusing.

     A monk noticed that this was becoming a grave problem.  As the Welsh lost more and more ground, the monk cried out to them, "Welshmen, you must mark yourselves so that you can better tell who is Saxon and who is Welsh.  The monk plucked a leek plant from the ground and continued, "Here, wear these so you will know that any soldier who does not have a leek is your enemy."

     Some of the soldiers thought this was a rather odd idea, but the monk was one of God's men so they went along with it.  Soon every Welsh soldier was wearing a leek on his helmet.  They attacked the invaders and before long, the Welsh had won                                               the battle.

The monk who came up with the idea of wearing a leek was named David.  David died on March 1st.  After he died, the Catholic Church made him a saint.

St.  David (Dewi Sant in Welsh) is the patron saint of Wales, and March 1, his feast day, is celebrated as a patriotic and cultural festival by the Welsh in Wales and around the world.  The leek is the national flower of Wales.  Welsh people all over the world proudly wear the stalk, flower or a bit of leaf from a leek plant on March 1st.

The welsh leek has a flower much like a daffodil (which is quite a bit easier to find around the world in March), so many use daffodils instead.