Laetare-Rejoice!

Rejoice, O 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. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. - Introit from Laetare Sunday

Pausing in the midst of the somberness of Lent to encourage us to run the race to the finish, Holy Mother Church turns our attentions to the coming joys of our Redemption. Joy is a fruit of suffering with Christ, and our dear Mother is our best guide to imitating Him, so we turn to her today asking her to obtain for us the grace to suffer well with Christ so as to rejoice in and with Him for eternity.

Mary, my Queen, my Mother dear!
Behold me at thy feet,
Oh deign thy servant's heart to cheer
And teach me what is meet
For me to do to honor thee,
And best to serve thy Son;
Obtain, sweet Lady, that in me
At least thy will be done.
From a poem to our Blessed Mother