Laetare means ‘rejoice,’ from the opening word of the Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Lent.  Laetare Sunday is a lightening of the penitential Lenten season, reflected in the option of rose vestments and decorations permitted.  Our parish Formed coverage calls this the Lent Halftime show, we are halfway to Easter in our Lenten journey. In our readings, we see a way back from captive exile and isolation, to our temple and a restoration of the people of God. Jesus enlightens Nicodemus with the meaning of the Cross, “for God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life” ( John 3:16).


Image: Matthias Stom - Christ and Nicodemus