Laetare Jerusalem

Yesterday was the fourth Sunday of the Western lent, traditionally called Laetare Sunday, from the Latin "Laetare" the imperative (command) form of the Latin verb "rejoice", which, at first blush, is a rather strange name for a Sunday in the middle of Lent.

Fr. Ken Webb, FSSP preached on this very theme, pointing out that, from the viewpoint of the world, rejoicing while doing penance is a contradiction. It is only in the paschal mystery of Christ that we can find a reconciliation of this appearent contradiction. I can't do Fr. Webb's sermon justice, so I'll simply let the liturgy speak for it's self:

Laetare Jerusalem: et conventum facite, omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuisstis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae

Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her; rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow; that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of consolation.