Rogation Day

It's Rogation Day!

"Eh? What's that?"

Well...um...let me see. Well, actually, today is the second of a set of three.

"There are three?"

Yes...these three days fall immediately prior to Ascension Day.

It's quite an ancient tradition - taking its root from the Latin 'Rogare', to ask - we spend time praying for our needs...for fruitful seasons and those who work on the land and sea; for our commerce and industry; and for the environment that God might help us care for the world, to help us be good stewards.

There are three special prayers (collects) for these days:

Almighty God,
whose will it is that the earth and the sea
should bear fruit in due season:
bless the labours of those who work on land and sea,
grant us a good harvest
and the grace always to rejoice in your fatherly care;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God and Father,
you have so ordered our life
that we are dependent on one another:
prosper those engaged in commerce and industry
and direct their minds and hands
that they may rightly use your gifts in the service of others;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God our Father,
you never cease the work you have begun
and prosper with your blessing all human labour:
make us wise and faithful stewards of your gifts
that we may serve the common good,
maintain the fabric of our world
and seek that justice where all may share
the good things you pour upon us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We often think that prayers of request are somehow crude, ugly and selfish. You must be a shallow Christian to pray such prayers...

The truth, of course, is that we never graduate from this form of prayer - all the meditation and mysticism cannot erase the fact that we NEED God. And this need drives us to our needs...we need forgiveness, guidance, energy, insight, healing, support, etc, etc.

Indeed, one could argue that we disobey God when we fail to ask..."until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (John 16:24)


You can read more about the roots of Rogation Days here.