As we approach the midway point of Lent and purchase our gifts and cards for Mothering Sunday, Richard Tanner explains the history surrounding the fourth Sunday in Lent and asks if it is an opportunity to break our Lenten fast.
Lent seems to be progressing ever so quickly this year. So quickly that, this coming Sunday, we are to reach the midway point between Shrove Tuesday (the "cosmic party day" as the Dean called it in this blog) and Good Friday.
For about 1,000 years, the Sunday in the middle of Lent, has been a little special.
It has been known as Refreshment (or, in Latin, Laetare) Sunday.
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In the Middle Ages, the penitential disciplines of Lent were relaxed somewhat and there were some provisions for feasting and celebrations.
This special Sunday has become a chance to lighten up, to pause in the middle of Lent, relax, and get some perspective on how things really are.
In Britain, another custom that has been held on the fourth Sunday of Lent, for about five hundred years, is that of Mothering Sunday.
In the 16th century, the Church required that the people returned to their mother' church or cathedral for that day's service.
The day became known as Mothering Sunday, not through association with mothers, but because of the journey made to the mother' church.
In an age when children as young as ten left home to take up work or apprenticeships elsewhere, this was often the only day in the whole year when families would be reunited.
By the 17th century, it had become a public holiday, when servants and apprentices were given the day off, so that they could fulfill their duties to the Church.
They often brought gifts of flowers and a special cake for their mothers.
The cake, made of a fine wheaten flower, called simila in Latin, has evolved into the traditional Simnel cake.
It is decorated with eleven balls of marzipan, representing the Apostles (excluding Judas).
In recent times, Mothering Sunday has become more like the American Mother's Day with offspring expected to give presents and cards to their mothers.
The original meaning has been largely lost.
However, unlike in America, where Mother's Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday in May, in this country we have retained the significant Christian connection of celebrating Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent.
As you purchase your Mothering Sunday cards this week, do look forward to the fact that this coming Sunday is not only an important day to remember our mothers with tremendous gratitude and affection, but also a day for the whole family, perhaps a day to make a special effort to go to church and a day of general refreshment.
It may not be a day for a "cosmic party", but some kind of feasting would be perfectly in order.
Is this Sunday an opportunity to break Lenten fasts? Maybe you are looking forward to having a special Refreshment Sunday drink or some chocolate this weekend!
Or is it another day to be brave and wait for that glass of champagne with the Dean on Easter morning after the 5am Dawn Eucharist?
What do you do if you had a rotten mother, by anyones standards, whether or not she could help her behaviour. We know a lot of people are confused by the concenpt of God as Father because of their childhhod experiences, but many people have been left very damaged by their mothers. Any room for them in church next Sunday?
What do you do if you had a rotten mother, by anyones standards, whether or not she could help her behaviour. We know a lot of people are confused by the concenpt of God as Father because of their childhhod experiences, but many people have been left very damaged by their mothers. Any room for them in church next Sunday?
Posted by: Ian the Beancounter, Darwen on 11:18am Mon 25 Feb 08
Richard
Many thanks for your explanation of the origins of Mothers Day. I have no interest in the religious aspect of it, but I strongly agree that our mothers need to be honoured and acknowledged. My own mother died 20 years ago and I still think about her on most days. Although I have a wonderful wife and a grown up family, the love and affection I hold for my mother is still palpable.
Cantoris - I take your point, and I feel tremendously sad for anyone in this situation. All I can say is that those people should be thankful that she went through the birth process and did not terminate the baby, or give him/her away at birth. There must be some happy memories - focus on them!
Richard
Many thanks for your explanation of the origins of Mothers Day. I have no interest in the religious aspect of it, but I strongly agree that our mothers need to be honoured and acknowledged. My own mother died 20 years ago and I still think about her on most days. Although I have a wonderful wife and a grown up family, the love and affection I hold for my mother is still palpable.
Cantoris - I take your point, and I feel tremendously sad for anyone in this situation. All I can say is that those people should be thankful that she went through the birth process and did not terminate the baby, or give him/her away at birth. There must be some happy memories - focus on them!
Posted by: Simplysimon, Burnley on 1:21pm Mon 25 Feb 08
It's interesting how the original essence has been corrupted into a gift, flowers, card and shopping fest. After 2000 years it's easy to see how the 'chinese whispers' effect kicks in. Often adapting and losing the truth of the original message.
My Mother was an orphan. She hated her Step- Mother. She past that hate on to me. I don't think she could help it.
It's interesting how the original essence has been corrupted into a gift, flowers, card and shopping fest. After 2000 years it's easy to see how the 'chinese whispers' effect kicks in. Often adapting and losing the truth of the original message.
My Mother was an orphan. She hated her Step- Mother. She past that hate on to me. I don't think she could help it.
Posted by: Joseph Yossarian, London on 5:10pm Mon 25 Feb 08
It's interesting to see how the original essence has been transformed into something far more appropriate.
Thankfully society has moved on from forcing people to travel to attend church.
"A day off" is a misnomer if it is simply forcing attendance at church instead of work; it is still a compulsion.
Thankfully the original meaning has been lost so the church has had to adapt as it can no longer force people against their will to attend services.
I'mm be happy to give my mum flowers, and I'll be more than happy to not be forced into a weekly sunday indocrination!
It's interesting to see how the original essence has been transformed into something far more appropriate.
Thankfully society has moved on from forcing people to travel to attend church.
"A day off" is a misnomer if it is simply forcing attendance at church instead of work; it is still a compulsion.
Thankfully the original meaning has been lost so the church has had to adapt as it can no longer force people against their will to attend services.
I'mm be happy to give my mum flowers, and I'll be more than happy to not be forced into a weekly sunday indocrination!
Posted by: James Cronshaw, Burnley on 5:27pm Mon 25 Feb 08
Hey Joe!
Swapping one religious indoctrination for a consummerist indoctrination is not exactly freedom!
You will be forced into the shopping centres. If not the Church.
Hey Joe!
Swapping one religious indoctrination for a consummerist indoctrination is not exactly freedom!
You will be forced into the shopping centres. If not the Church.
Posted by: Joesph Yorassian, London on 6:41pm Mon 25 Feb 08
[quote][bold]James Cronshaw[/bold] wrote:
Hey Joe! Swapping one religious indoctrination for a consummerist indoctrination is not exactly freedom! You will be forced into the shopping centres. If not the Church.[/quote] Only by the girlfiend. . . . . . .
it's a bit of a catch-22 situation......
James Cronshaw wrote:
Hey Joe! Swapping one religious indoctrination for a consummerist indoctrination is not exactly freedom! You will be forced into the shopping centres. If not the Church.
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