Rogation Days

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 20, 14 May 1903, Page 31

Rogation Days

The observance of Rogation Days — Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday — owes its origin to a variety of calamities that befel the city of Vienne in Pnuphine. For more than half a century, not a year, not even a season, passed without Bauphine and Savoy being afflicted with some new evils. So many misfortunes had reduced these provinces to a state of extreme desolation. Mamertus, Bishop of Vienne (and who is honored as a saint), in the liveliness of his flaith and charity, offered up prayers and tears to appease the wrath of God. He was heard Stopping a conflagration which devoured his cathedral, on Easter night (469). he made a vow to institute the ' Rogations.' The Rogations are litanies, or supplications, which consist in solemn procession, accompanied with public fast and prayer. With the general consent of the clergy and people, the three days preceding Ascension Bay (Thursday) weie chosen for the fulfilment of this vow. This example was soon followed everywhere A decree of the First Council of Orleans, in M 4, established the Rogations in Gaul, and from there the practice was introduced into Spain and other, countries.