Thought for the Week: Rogation

Last Sunday was Rogation Sunday and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week are Rogation days, ending with Ascension Day on Thursday. It is also the beginning of Christian Aid Week when we help the poor and those in the world who rely on the fruitfulness of the land for their living.

Rogation comes from the Latin “rogare”, which means, to ask, and reminds us of the words in John’s Gospel chapter 15: “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

By the seventeenth century the Church had adopted the old Roman festival of “Terminalia”, or “boundaries”, to process around the boundaries of open fields. It helped to resolve disputes on property ownership. I believe that this still happens in France.

Church services were adopted to bless the crops for the coming season. George Herbert, the poet, clergyman of the 1630s, said that processions should be encouraged for 4 reasons - 1. A Blessing of God for the fruits of the field. 2. Justice in the preservation of bounds. 3. Charity in loving, walking and neighbourly accompanying one another with reconciling of differences at the time, if there be any. 4. Mercie, in relieving the poor by a liberal distribution of largesse, which at the time is or ought to be used.

Rogation takes place in the springtime, when there is a renewing of the earth. In this country, it follows Easter, the season of resurrection. Renewal and Resurrection therefore, are underlying themes of this festival, but it could also include – access to the countryside, conservation of species, ecology, human relationship to the natural order and relief of the poor.

Rogation is very apt to the future of our planet today.

Hymns:

All creatures of our God and King,

Lift up your voice and with us sing

Alleluia, alleluia.

Thou burning sun with golden beam,

Thou silver moon with softer gleam,

O praise him, O praise him,

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Dear Mother earth, who day by day

Unfoldest blessings on our way,

O praise him, alleluia.

The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,

Let them his glory also show.

O praise him, O praise him,

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. (W.H. Draper. 1855-1933. Based on St Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun)

Distewch, cans mae presenoldeb Crist, y Sanctaidd Un, gerllaw;

dewch, plygwch ger ei fron mewn dwfn, barchedig fraw:

dibechod yw efe, lle saif mae’n sanctaidd le;

distewch, cans mae presenoldeb Crist, y sanctaidd Un, gerllaw.

Distewch, cans mae nerth yr Arglwydd Iôr yn symud yn ein plith;

daw i’n iacháu yn awr, gweinydda’i ras fel gwlith:

fe glyw ein hegwan lef, drwy fydd derbyniwch ef;

distewch, cans mae nerth yr Arglwydd Iôr yn symud yn ein plith.

(David J. Evans Cyf. R. Glyn Jones. 1918-2010)

Prayers:

O Lord, who surrounds with your love all things living and promises to save both man and beast:

we thank you for the companionship of animals and birds, without which there would be for human kind a great loneliness of spirit on the earth.

When we are careless of the beasts and forget that they are your creatures, forgive us. Amen.

Hollalluog Dduw, diolchwn i ti am y rhai sydd trwy eu gwaith ar faes ac yn y fferm, yn cynyrchu ein bwyd. Gweddiwn dros bawb sydd yn y diwidiant amaethu yn enwedig yn y wasgfa bresennol. Par i ni wybod eu bod trwy eu Gwaith yn rhannu yn dy waith o drefnu’r byd yma. Gwarchod hwy a’u cynnal yn eu trallod a’u dwyn i’th deyrnas dragwyddol yn y diwedd gyda’th holl saint.

Gofynnwn hyn yn enw a haeddiant Iesu Grist ein Harglwydd. Amen

(The Arthur Rank Centre)

Rev John Powell,

Retired vicar of Cardigan