Father Hathaway’s Weekly Column — March 27, 2022
LAETARE SUNDAY
Today, March 27, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, is known as Laetare Sunday. Laetare comes from the first words of the traditional Latin entrance (Introit) for the Mass of the day, Laetare Jerusalem (Rejoice Jerusalem) from Isaiah 66:10. Since Easter is enticingly near – just three weeks away — today is a day of joyful anticipation and the penitential austerity of Lent is relaxed briefly. The vestments the priest wears may be rose-colored instead of the more somber violet of Lent, and flowers may adorn the sanctuary. This also might be a good day to relax your Lenten penance a bit!
THE SCRUTINIES
Today also is important because our 10 a.m. Mass includes the second of three Scrutinies. These rites are being celebrated on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent, for the four individuals –known as “the Elect” – who are preparing to be baptized here at the Basilica at the Easter Vigil Mass.
The Scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal, all that is weak, defective or sinful in the hearts of the Elect, and to strengthen all that is upright, strong and good. The Scrutinies also deliver the Elect from the power of sin and Satan, protect them against temptation and give them strength in Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Please keep our Elect and RCIA candidates (those who are already baptized) in your prayers as they prepare to joyfully enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. Let us remember, too, the truth of the Scrutinies: We are all sinners in need of healing and forgiveness; we all need the mercy offered by Jesus Christ.
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
In these final weeks before Easter, please be sure to take advantage of the Sacrament of Penance, if you haven’t yet done so during Lent. The rose-colored insert in this issue of the bulletin provides you with a guide and our Basilica confession times.
“Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.” – Pope Saint John Paul II
LISTENING SESSION
Many thanks to all those individuals who participated in our March 15 Synodal Listening Session. Your insightful comments are most appreciated. I have shared a summary of those comments with Bishop Burbidge, who will utilize them as he prepares the report he presents to the Holy Father on behalf of our Arlington Diocese.
To learn more about the synodal process, please visit https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/synod/.