Rogation Week

Summary

Is the Week in which Ascention Day doth fall : The three Days before that Great Day were called Rogation Days by the Ancient Christians, from the Extraordinary Prayers and Supplications then used, for all Persons, and for all Things ; the better to prepare their Souls to Attend our Savior at that Time by a Spiritual Ascention.

For as God made Ascention Day a Day of Giving, (When He Ascended up on High, He led Captivity Captiv, and gave Gifts unto Men) the Church made the Days before it a Time of Asking. as in the Gospel appointed for the Day you may read.

The keeping of these Days was not Novel Superstition, but a Venerable Institution of Pious Antiquity, As S. Augustine witnesseth in his Sermon on Ascention Eve : and in another concerning Rogation Sunday.

Our Savior Comforting His Disciples against Tribulation by the Promise of the H. Ghost, assureth them that Prayers made in His Name should be Accepted. Whatsoever you shall Ask the Father in my Name He will giv it you. Ask, and Receiv, that your Joy might be full.

This Blessed Precept, Large Commission, and Beneficial Duty, which our Savior gav His Apostles, and in them to us, and to all Succeeding Ages, is the Strength Hope Encouragement and Confidence of all our Prayers. Which are at all times to be performed in as full a Degree as the Ordinary Estate of our Calling will permit : And yet H. Church hath Wisely set apart these Rogation Days, as an Extraordinary Time, which cannot be always tho they may Conveniently be som times, for more peculiar Praying then upon other Days. As being prompted thereunto, by the Contemplation and Memory of our Saviors Departure and Ascention. that our Minds by Prayer may Ascend to Heaven, whither our Mediator Ascended in Person.

To Ask Mercies in the Times of Common Miseries ; Sympathyzing with the Church in all her Calamities.

To Implore Gods Blessing upon the Fruits of the Earth, which are then all in Springing.

To Deprecat His Judgements that neither the Catterpillar nor Palmer-Worm, with the rest of the Army of the Lord of Hosts, fall upon us.

To implore His Mercy for our Safety and Protection.