Rogation

Rogation Days are ancient in origin, going back to the pagan Robigalia which was a procession through a village's fields to pray for preservation of the crops from mildew. In the Western Church the prescribed days of prayer and fasting are the "Major Rogation" of 25th April and the "Minor Rogation" of the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Ascension Day. The name is derived from the Latin "rogare", to beseech.

The first recorded Christian rogation day is found-c. 4-70 when the-Diocese of Vienne (Gaul) was threatened by volcanic eruptions. The idea soon became a popular way of praying for a parish and the safety of' its crops by processing round it. The use of rogation services was confirmed by the Council of Orleans in

The 1662 Book of Common Prayer ordered the observation of Minor Rogation Days as " days of Fasting and Abstinence". The Rogation processions circle the parish, halting at various boundary markers (nearly always including a "Gospel Oak"). At the markers the "beating of the bounds" takes place which involves a beating of the ground or landmark (and often, in the past, the beating of boy "volunteers" as well). This annual beating clearly established the boundaries of the parish and witnesses (or victims) of the service could be referred to in cases of local dispute. Although Rogation processions fell out of favour in the nineteenth century, they have achieved something of a revival in recent years.

In 1969 the Roman Catholic Church replaced Rogation Days with periods of prayer for the needs of mankind, the fruits of the earth and the work of men's hands which could be held at any time of year.

Celebrating Rogation

A customary feature of Rogation Days is the beating of parish boundaries. This makes this time of year an appropriate one for thinking of the theme of community, whether this is the school community, the parish, or citizenship of the wider community. This could be an opportunity to "beat the bounds" of your own ecclesiastical parish, establishing its boundary markers. The theme would easily tie in with local history or geography work. Pupils could use the opportunity to create their own Rogation service by devising prayers or poems about different aspects of community life.