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The Parish Messenger
May 1999
Te Rogamus Audi Nos
The years around 470 A.D. must have been a time somewhat similar to our own. It was a time
of unusual weather patterns - storms, floods and earthquakes tormented the land and made
life difficult for peoples of many countries. About this time the bishop of Vienne in Gaul
originated an annual observance of penitential exercises lasting a period of three days
before the feast of the Ascension. He also prescribed penitential processions during these
three days. Thus began what we now know as the Rogation Days.
Previous to this period, the custom of combining litanies and processions had developed to
such a point that the two terms had become synonymous. Litanies are an ancient form of
prayer stemming from Jewish tradition. They consist of a set of invocations and responses
usually done by different groups of people. The "Great Hallel" (Psalm 136) is an
example of this from the Scriptures wherein the people sing the response, "His love
is everlasting" to the intercessions proclaimed by the cantor. In the Christian
tradition, litanies typically consist of four parts. First there is an invocation to the
Triune God, with the usual response being, "have mercy upon us." Next comes an
invocation of Mary and the Saints, with the response being an intercession, "pray for
us." Third comes a set of prayers for protection from evils of body and soul, the
response being, "Good Lord deliver us." Finally come prayers for needed favors
with the response, "we beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord;" or in Latin,
"Te rogamus, audi nos." It is from the word "rogamus" that the English
word "rogation" is derived. The Rogation days are days in which we
"beseech" the Lord's blessing on the earth, that it be made fruitful and that we
find ourselves blessed with sunny days and rain in the proper amounts to assure the
blessings of a bounteous harvest in the gathering season.
In more agrarian times, it was customary for the people to form a procession at the Church
which would wend its way through the lanes and fields as the priest sprinkled holy water
on the newly planted crops. Upon arrival at the Church again, a sermon would be preached
and the Rogation Mass begun. In larger towns, people would assemble in their parish
churches and form processions, all converging upon the town's major Church or Cathedral.
There they would participate in the Solemn High Mass and afterwards their temporal needs
would be attended to in a large fair. From these customs stem pious practices such as the
"beating of the bounds" wherein people circle their fields and orchards,
sometimes in rhythmic step, praying for good weather and bountiful crops.
Since we are rather "cement-locked" being located in the heart of the city, our
rogation procession takes more the form of the "beating of the bounds" than the
blessing of the fields. We will circle the property, praying psalms and litanies as we go,
and blessing the four corners of the property. This will take place on the Sunday
following Ascension due to the fact that the previous Sunday is Mother's Day and is slated
for the May Crowning.
Are you still celebrating?
While the bunnies may be put away, the eggs turned into salads long-gone, the season of
Easter continues and will do so until the Feast of Pentecost. The season of Easter is
often referred to as "The Great Fifty Days." Mother Church may make us fast for
forty days, but she makes it up to her children by giving them fifty days of joy and
celebration in return. Nothing can stop the joy of the Easter Feast - not even death
itself - for Easter is the triumph of the Living Lord over sin and death.
Mark this season with a special celebration - a picnic, gathering of friends, etc. The
"Queen of Feasts" is a special gift to us from God our Father and Mother Church.
Revel in it - a full fifty-days-worth.
We would like to take this occasion to welcome officially to the parish several new
members.
Madeline Franklin is the infant daughter of Marcy and Tim Franklin. She comes to us by way
of Baptism, done at the Great Vigil of Easter.
Todd and Mary Illig have also joined us. Todd was baptized on Low Sunday. He and his wife
Mary will be confirmed and received at the Bishop's visitation in June.
"We receive you into the Household of God."
His Glorious Ascension
May 13 is the Feast of the Ascension. It is one of those that, is so often overlooked. All
Episcopalians are called to be faithful and to observe this Holy Day by being present at
the Altar. But why? What makes the Ascension so important? In the Prayer of Consecration
from the Prayer Book we have these words:
... having in remembrance his blessed passion, and precious death, his mighty resurrection
and glorious Ascension...
What are these benefits in this list that begins with our Lord's passion, death,
resurrection and ascension? Or, put another way, since these four great witness days of
Jesus are combined into a single line, maybe they are also combined in what is one great
movement from God to earth and from Jesus to God.
What is so glorious about the Ascension, is that Jesus is raised to the right hand of God
the Father. Remembering that God the Holy Trinity constantly reveals himself through his
Son Jesus Christ, it is glorious also because it is a foretaste for those who truly
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. What will happen to us after death? Well, we shall sleep
- the Biblical term for death is to sleep. We shall fall asleep in the Lord. At some time
after our death, God will call to us, and those who know his voice will be like the sheep
in the tenth chapter of St. John's Gospel and will follow him who is the Good Shepherd.
The second reason why the Ascension is glorious is Jesus has not left us; he has brought
us with him into heaven. Because of the Ascension, when the priest sings or says
"Lift up your hearts," the people sing or say "We lift them up unto the
Lord," and the entire Church goes to where the Lord is, which is heaven. And the
altar of your parish church is a place where heaven and earth meet.
-via Notes From the Heart, Grace Church, Galesburg, and Trinity Church,
Monmouth, Illinois
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