THE ROGATION DAYS

By John Santosuosso

       Note: Several years ago at Pathfinders I taught a lesson on the Rogation Days. As the time for their annual observance again approaches I thought it would perhaps be appropriate to bring attention to their vital teaching to all who read our blog, as they are not always widely known or observed. I have taken what we did in the class, edited it a bit, and made some modest additions. I hope you find it of interest and food for thought.

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15

      Eucharistic Prayer "C" reminds us that our planet is our island home. This compels us to take the task of protecting and nurturing it very seriously. Until the aliens arrive and offer free public transportation we are not going anywhere else. Mindful of this, the Episcopal Church is offering an education program on the Creation. I think this is good, but maybe we should take a look at what our church did in the past. We might be pleasantly surprised.

      One of the first things I did after becoming an Episcopalian was to buy a Prayer Book. I discovered all kinds of things in there, some familiar, some not. When I got to the liturgical calendar I encountered something called the Rogation Days. The BCP said these were traditionally observed on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day. Later I learned they could be observed anytime. There was just one problem. I had not the slightest idea what they were.

      My first attempt at research indicated the Romans had an observance intended to fend off wheat rust. Fortunately Christians replaced the rather disgusting Roman ritual with the Rogation Days. The term "rogation" is derived from Latin and means to ask God for help in preventing natural disasters. The earliest Christian observances were around 470 AD, and by 816 Rome made this an official practice. The first Rogation services in Britain date back to the seventh century.

     The Rogation Days were intended to be a time of preparation for Ascension Day, and also when priests would bless the crops. In Britain and elsewhere another common practice was "beating the bounds," a march around the parish boundaries (not just the immediate church property), where requests were made for God's blessings and thanks made for good harvests. While early Rogation practices were rather solemn, they eventually degenerated at times into "drunken revelry." Still, the Rogation Days managed to remind parishioners of God's blessings on agriculture, fishing, and rural life. From Britain the observance made its way throughout parts of the British Empire including what would become the United States. While the Rogation Days have fallen into considerable decline, their observance has never completely died out.

      The most recent edition of the Episcopal Book of Occasional Services has taken serious efforts to make the Rogation Days more relevant for our day, as the world has changed considerably. If you have ever been to London's historic St. Martin in the Fields Anglican Church this becomes obvious. The fields that were there when a church was first constructed on the site 800 years ago have been replaced by buildings and London traffic.

      Suggestions for a Rogation procession are given in the 2022 Book of Occasional Services. If more convenient the procession may take place on a Sunday afternoon or other time. It is appropriate that it end with the celebration of the Eucharist. Appropriate Scripture readings, hymns, and prayers are provided, and these may be used at various stops along the procession route. These can be places such as a farmers market, a medical facility, a lake, a recycling center, a park, or any other appropriate place where thanks may be offered to God for what we have received and what we acknowledge we will seek to protect. An ancient Christian practice can still be appropriate for our time.

       As a former National Park Service Ranger-Historian, I have concerns about some of our environmental problems today. Our country's crown jewels, the national parks, are in trouble as they are both understaffed and underfunded. Several years ago on a trip to Everglades City, at the time of the autumn spring tides, I discovered that the town's main streets were flooding during high tide despite the absence of rain or bad weather. Throughout the country too many of our farmers are facing financial difficulties and even bankruptcies. In our churches from time to time we sing that old hymn, "This Is My Father's World." (Episcopal Hymnal #651) If we really believe that, then we need to follow the teachings of the Rogation Days, and be loving caretakers of God's magnificent creation. That would seem like an appropriate ministry for the Strawberry Capital of the World. What we plant is what we will harvest.

Questions

1. Would a Rogation procession be appropriate for a church such as St. Peter's?

2. What other ways might a parish observe the Rogation Days? 

3. Are there ways in our private, secular lives we might promote the spirit of the Rogation Days?

4. How might children take part in our efforts to commemorate the Rogation Days?

5. Are there ways we could connect with other churches and institutions to promote the spirit of the Rogation Days?

6. The Book of Occasional Services promotes planting family gardens and provides a ritual for the blessing of a garden. Is this something that might be of interest?