Laetare Sunday

Laetare Sunday
Observed byWestern Christianity
Liturgical colorRose
TypeChristian
ObservancesChurch services; feasts/parties
DateFourth Sunday of Lent (21 days before Easter Sunday)
2023 dateMarch 19
2024 dateMarch 10
2025 dateMarch 30
2026 dateMarch 15
The incipit for the Gregorian chant introit from which Laetare Sunday gets its name
Rose chasuble (Sunday Gaudete and Laetare), formerly Speyer Cathedral, now Stiftskirche Neustadt/Weinstraße

Laetare Sunday (Church Latin: [leˈta.re]; Classical Latin: [lae̯ˈtaːre]; English: /liːˈtɛəri/) is the fourth Sunday in the season of Lent, in the Western Christian liturgical calendar. Traditionally, this Sunday has been a day of celebration within the austere period of Lent. This Sunday gets its name from the first few words (incipit) of the traditional Latin entrance verse (Introit) for the Mass of the day. "Laetare Jerusalem" ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem") is Latin from Isaiah 66:10.