Rogate and Rogation Days

David at Prayer

This year Sunday, May 17 is Rogate, the Fifth Sunday after Easter.  This Sunday takes its name not from the first word of the Introit as is common to the other Sundays after Easter, but rather from the observance of the three days that follow:  Rogation Days.  Rogate comes from the Latin rogare which means “to ask,” a reference to the strong theme of prayer in the appointed historic Propers.  The Gospel for Rogate includes this promise: “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24)

Rogation days, days of penitence and prayer, were historically observed on April 25 (the Major Rogation, the celebration of which predates the observance of the Feast of St. Mark), and on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord. 

Rogation Days are said to have been introduced about the year 470 by St. Mamertus, Bishop of Vienna, when the ripening crops were threatened by volcano. The historic observance of Rogation Days included a processional outside the church building following the Office of None, in which the Litany was sung, for the purpose of asking God to keep the plantings healthy and bring forth a bountiful harvest.  Starting at the foot of the Chancel, the processional proceeded from the church, continued around the village, ultimately returning to the altar.  Holy Mass followed immediately. 

Lutheran liturgical scholar Paul H.D. Lang, author of the rubrical manual Ceremony and Celebration, encourages the observance of Rogation Days, including the Litany chanted in processional, followed by the chanting of Psalm 70, and then by prayers.  At the Mass following the prayers, the Paschal candle (not yet removed from the Sanctuary after Ascension Mass) is not lit.  As in the ferial Mass rubrics, in the Rogation Day Masses the Gloria in Excelsis and the Creed are omitted.  The Easter Proper Preface is sung. The proper liturgical color for Rogation Days is violet.  Rogate Sunday retains the color of Eastertide, white.

The Gospel reading appointed for Rogate, St. John 16:23-30, like those for Cantate and Jubilate, all foretell the Ascension of our Lord, and hence point the eyes of the faithful to our Incarnate, risen Lord’s eternal reign in heaven: “I leave the world and go to the Father.” (John 16:28) 

If April 25th falls on Easter or in its Octave, the Feast of St. Mark is transferred beyond the Octave, but the Rogation procession and litanies still occur on the Tuesday in the Octave. If only one Mass is celebrated the Wednesday before the Ascension, the Vigil of the Ascension is observed.

(Graphic: David at Prayer, 15th century Book of Hours.  In the collection of the British Library, Burney 336, f. 110)