The Rorate Mass is a votive Mass in honor of Mary. It is usually celebrated in the very early morning or late evening, accompanied only by candlelight. It was popular during the Middle Ages, also called the Angelic Mass or Golden Mass. In some countries, people would walk to the church carrying lamps or candles. Some say the melting wax of the many candles reflects the justice raining down. (Plus, who doesn’t love pretty candlelight in the winter dark?)
Celebration of the feast would include a procession, led by
a donkey, to and then into the church. It would stand by the ambo during a
sermon; sometimes the priest would even deliver the sermon from the donkey’s
back. Members of the procession would be dressed as prophets or other Bible figures
such as Moses, Amos, John the Baptist, and most notably for the day, Balaam and
his donkey. Some churches included a pageant about the prophets awaiting the
coming of the Messiah or the story of Balaam before the beginning of the Mass.
At the end of the Mass, instead of the priest saying “Ite,
missa est,” someone would coax the donkey to bray, to which the faithful
would respond, “hee-haw.”
Some historians argue it was a day similar to Carnival—silly and profane bringing an animal into a sacred space. Others say it was more solemn—using the animal to focus on its symbolism of humility and burden. I’d say it was probably a bit of both.
Ivo was known for his impartiality and rendering fair
verdicts as a judge. He refused bribes, which were common at the time. He would
even help parties settle disputes out of court to help them save money of court
costs. He also defended widows, orphans, and the poor in other courts and paid
their expenses.
While working as a judge, he continued to study, this time
Scripture. He joined the Franciscans and was ordained a priest in 1284. He spent
the rest of his life serving as a parish priest.
St. Ivo died of natural causes on May 19, 1303 in Louannec.
He is the patron of Brittany, lawyers, and abandoned children. His feast day is
May 19.
