Laetare

Laetare is a Latin word meaning "rejoice" or "be glad." In Catholic tradition it most commonly refers to the second Sunday after Easter, known as Laetare Sunday or Easter Triduum. The day marks a moment of relative relaxation within the solemnity of Lent; churches often replace the usual penitential readings with more cheerful scripture passages and hymns, and the liturgical color changes from violet to rose. The name derives from the Latin verb laetare, which conveys the joyous expression of relief. In Rome, the Pontifical Mass celebrated on Laetare Sunday is traditionally sung in Latin and highlights the beatific joy of resurrection. Outside the liturgical cycle, Laetare has also been used in historical contexts to denote festive occasions or Manners of praise in medieval oratory. In music, the phrase appears in various hymns and liturgical chants, such as the “Laetare quaedam” stanzas. The term has occasionally been adopted in secular contexts as a poetic exhortation to rejoice, especially in literature inspired by the liturgical calendar. Overall, Laetare remains a symbol of brief jubilation within the longer rhythm of Christian observance.