Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Christianity When Is Laetare Sunday? Find the Date for This and Other Years Share Flipboard Email Print Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio, decorated for Laetare Sunday. Getty Images Christianity Catholicism Holy Days and Holidays Beliefs and Teachings Prayers Tips Worship Saints Christianity Origins The Bible The New Testament The Old Testament Practical Tools for Christians Christian Life For Teens Christian Prayers Weddings Inspirational Bible Devotions Denominations of Christianity Christian Holidays Christian Entertainment Key Terms in Christianity Latter Day Saints View More By Scott P. Richert Scott P. Richert Catholicism Expert M.A., Political Theory, Catholic University of America B.A., Political Theory, Michigan State University Scott P. Richert is senior content network manager of Our Sunday Visitor. He has written about Catholicism for outlets including Humanitas and Catholic Answers Magazine. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on March 03, 2018 Laetare Sunday is the popular name for the Fourth Sunday in Lent. The name comes from the first word of the Introit or entrance antiphon of the Mass for that day: In Latin, the entrance antiphon (Isaiah 66:10-11) begins "Laetare, Jerusalem" ("Rejoice, Jerusalem"). Since there are six Sundays in Lent, Laetare Sunday falls just past the midpoint of Lent. For that reason, Laetare Sunday has traditionally been viewed as a day of celebration, on which the austerity of Lent is briefly lessened; the organ is played, flowers are allowed on the altar, and the purple vestments of Lent, signifying penance, are set aside and, as on Gaudete Sunday in Advent, rose ones are used instead. How Is the Date of Laetare Sunday Determined? As the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday is always three weeks before Easter. But because the date of Laetare Sunday depends on the date of Easter, and the date of Easter changes every year, Laetare Sunday falls on a different date each year. When Is Laetare Sunday This Year? Here is the date of Laetare Sunday this year: Laetare Sunday 2018: March 11, 2018 When Is Laetare Sunday in Future Years? Here are the dates of Laetare Sunday next year and in future years: Laetare Sunday 2019: March 31, 2019Laetare Sunday 2020: March 22, 2020Laetare Sunday 2021: March 14, 2021Laetare Sunday 2022: March 27, 2022Laetare Sunday 2023: March 19, 2023Laetare Sunday 2024: March 10, 2024Laetare Sunday 2025: March 30, 2025Laetare Sunday 2026: March 15, 2026Laetare Sunday 2027: March 7, 2027Laetare Sunday 2028: March 26, 2028Laetare Sunday 2029: March 11, 2029Laetare Sunday 2030: March 31, 2030 When Was Laetare Sunday in Previous Years? Here are the dates when Laetare Sunday fell in previous years, going back to 2007: Laetare Sunday 2007: March 18, 2007Laetare Sunday 2008: March 2, 2008Laetare Sunday 2009: March 22, 2009Laetare Sunday 2010: March 14, 2010Laetare Sunday 2011: April 3, 2011Laetare Sunday 2012: March 18, 2012Laetare Sunday 2013: March 10, 2013Laetare Sunday 2014: March 30, 2014Laetare Sunday 2015: March 15, 2015Laetare Sunday 2016: March 6, 2016Laetare Sunday 2017: March 26, 2017 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Richert, Scott P. "When Is Laetare Sunday?" Learn Religions, Aug. 25, 2020, learnreligions.com/when-is-laetare-sunday-541613. Richert, Scott P. (2020, August 25). When Is Laetare Sunday? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-laetare-sunday-541613 Richert, Scott P. "When Is Laetare Sunday?" Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-laetare-sunday-541613 (accessed May 29, 2023). copy citation