Laetare Sunday 2020

The Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 22, 2020

 During the current COVID-19 pandemic, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral will offer a short prayer service on Sunday mornings. Join us live at 9:00 a.m. CDT on Sunday, March 22.  Anyone can access the service here: Trinity Cathedral Omaha. (You do not need to be a Facebook user to join us.)

 Today is the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Laetare Sunday. The name comes from the traditional Latin introit to the Mass, "Laetare Jerusalem" (Rejoice, O Jerusalem). It marks the hopeful halfway point on our Lenten journey to Easter Day, and it is set apart from the other Sundays in Lent through the use of rose vestments. In England, it is referred to as "Mothering Sunday," originally a time when people returned to their "mother church" (the church where they were baptized). Servants were given the day off to return to their home churches; this was often the only time that families could celebrate together, since time off was rarely granted on other holidays. Children often gathered flowers along the way, placing them in the church or giving them to their mothers. Special pastries, especially a light fruitcake called "simnel cake," were served. (View a recipe here: Simnel Cake.) In the UK and Ireland, this day now serves as the equivalent of our "Mothers Day." 
Francois Couperin
Organ music for today's liturgy is drawn from the Kyrie (Lord, Have Mercy) of Francois Couperin's Mass for the Convents. This organ work is an example of the French alternatim practice where the organ and choir alternate "singing" the mass. In this style, the organ is considered to be a full and equal partner with the choir in singing praise to God. The organ begins with the first statement of 
Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy), which would be followed by the choir, then alternating throughout the mass. Hear a recording of the first movement: Kyrie.

Couperin wrote this mass setting in 1690 as a model of the alternatim practice for organists of his time. The style includes florid ornamentation which, while observing performance practices of the time, was left to the discretion and taste of the player. The composer assumed an improvisatory element, so it would be rare for any two performances to be identical.

On a Sunday when our choir and congregation cannot assemble to sing, I thought this would be a perfect choice for our liturgy. The organ sings a prayer for God's mercy and holds a sacred space until we can gather once again.



Music for the Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 22, 2020

Organ voluntaries 
Kyrie from Messe pour les Convents
-Francois Couperin                                                      
(Plein jeu, Fugue sur la Trompette, Dialogue)

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