From the Archives – “Low” Sunday in the Octave of Easter

The Sunday following Easter was known by various names before Pope John Paul designated it Divine Mercy Sunday in 2000. (Ironically, he died on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005, and Pope Benedict XVI beatified him on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2014.)

In many places, this day was called “White Sunday” because newly baptized converts wore white robes at Mass until this Sunday. This name (albis desponendis, removal of the white, in Latin) was found in the Roman Missal until 1970.

If you grew up or lived in Saint Mary parish before Divine Mercy Sunday, the day was usually known as “Low Sunday.” Probably the word “Low” was used to contrast it with the high feast of Easter. Some sources speculate that it is a corruption of the Latin word laudes (praise), used in the traditional Sequence that is sung at Mass on that day.

Saint Mary parishioners from Eastern European countries, such as Poland, may have known the day as “Thomas Sunday,” since the eighth day after the Resurrection is when Jesus entered the locked room where the disciples were staying and Thomas made his confession of faith.

— Kitty Guy, Parish Historian

In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series. An archive of the features is located here.