Diocese to celebrate Rogation Days

April 28, 2005

Dear Friends in Christ,

Rogation comes from the Latin word "rogare, which means to ASK. Rogation Days are days when we acknowledge that God, our Father, is the source of growth and abundance and also that all the elements of nature obey His command.

We as church are encouraged to observe the Rogation Days or "Prayer Days" which are divided between the major Rogation - April 25 (feast of St. Mark) and the minor Rogation on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (May 2, 3 and 4 this year) prior to our celebration of the feast of the Ascension of our Lord into heaven.

These days are truly a time for all of us to pray for the work our farmers and gardeners do in our diocese in Northwest Iowa. This is the seedtime of the year. We pray also with gratitude to God for the bountiful soil given to us in His creation for our use. The tools and machinery used in the work of farming and gardening are extensions of ourselves and asking God's blessing on them is indeed proper and worthwhile.

In our prayers we must also recognize our responsibility to have a just and faithful stewardship of the land, the water, and the air around us. These are God's gifts and need to be sustained by us for future generations as we have received them from our ancestors. There is such bounty in the land here and our gratitude to the Creator should be unceasing.

As in the past 21 years the Diocesan Coalition to Preserve Family Farms is sending materials to all parishes in our diocese. May they provide help for liturgical celebrations, for reading and reflection. I support these "Rogation Days" - "Prayer Days."

Together may these be our prayers raised to God, our Father: to send us the rain we need; to give us the fine weather we pray for; to keep us safe from the threat and danger of storms; to keep all from harm in the use of tools and machinery in their work; to make our work fruitful and give us a good harvest. May God bless each of you.incerely yours in Christ,

Msgr. Roger J. Augustine
Diocesan Administrator