What Does “Rogation” Mean?

The word “Rogation” comes from the Latin verb rogare, meaning “to ask”, which reflects the beseeching of God for the appeasement of his anger and for protection from calamities.  “Rogation” means “asking”, which is a theme particularly prominent in the Gospel text for this Sunday (St. John 16:23-33).  We call this Sunday “Rogation Sunday” because the three (3) days which follow it are ancient Rogation Days, these being the three (3) days leading up to the great Feast of the Ascension of our Lord. 

How should we observe these days?  Rogation days are days of prayerful supplication before God.  In the agrarian culture of yesterday, it was common for the church to gather on the Rogation Days to ask God to bless the crops being sown, and farmers often had their crops blessed by a priest at this time.  What crops are being sown in your farm (life) today and which ones need God’s Blessings?