Q. 1. What is "Refreshment Sunday?"

A. 1. There are two Refreshment Sundays, these found within two Liturgical Seasons of the Catholic faith. These Seasons are Lent and Advent. They are celebrated on:

• Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, and
• Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent.

There are some who believe that the Fourth Sunday in Lent was called Refreshment Sunday because of the Gospel reference of that day when Jesus fed five thousand. [John 6:1-14].

Of the two Refreshment Sundays, Laetare Sunday is the best known. It is also called "Rose Sunday", "Mother Sunday" or "Mother's Day". In England, apprentice boys take the day off to visit their mothers on this day.