Passiontide is a name for the last two weeks of Lent, beginning on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Crucifixes and images are veiled. In covering the religious images during the height of Lent, all attention is centered on the Passion and death of Christ. This is why the only images not to be covered are the Stations of the Cross.
Laetare is the first word, meaning “rejoice” in the Latin text. On Laetare Sunday (as similarly with the Third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete Sunday) the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances. Call it rose, this change in color indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter, just before we enter into the somber days of Passiontide.
Lenten challenge: This week ask God: “What do you want me to give up?” He may ask for that which you love most. It will be something precious to you: time, money, a relationship, a dream, an opportunity. What matters is we trust Him and act sacrificially in line with His command. Whatever we sacrifice will of course come back to us as surely as the Risen Jesus — but that doesn’t make it easy.