Laetare Sunday called also MID-LENT, is the fourth Sunday of Lent. It is named Laetare (to rejoice) from the first word of the Introit of the mass, which is from Isa 54:1. The characteristic of the services of the day is joyousness, and the music of the organ, which throughout the rest of Lent is suspended, is on this day resumed. Laetare Sunday is also called doninica de rosa, because it is the day selected by the pope for the blessing of the Golden Rose. See Siegel, Handbuch d. christl.-Kirchlichen Altermthuer, 4:366, 367.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More