Tridentine Catholicism (pre-1970) of the
Gregorian chant introit Jubilate Deo. In the
historical Roman Rite of the
Catholic Church, this day was officially known as the
Third Sunday after Easter. It was also nicknamed
Jubilate Sunday due to the
incipit ("Iubilate Deo") of the
introit assigned to this day. The full text of the introit in its original
Latin was: "Iubilate Deo, omnis terra, allelúia: psalmum dícite nómini eius, allelúia, allelúia, allelúia. Dícite Deo, quam terribília sunt ópera tua, Dómine! in multitúdine virtútis tuæ mentiéntur tibi inimíci tui." This introit is based on (which is now more commonly called
Psalm 66 in accord with the Hebrew numbering used in modern Bibles). For a brief period of time (1847–1911), this Sunday was also celebrated as the
Solemnity of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. In 1911, this feast day was moved to the following Wednesday, where it remained until it was suppressed altogether in 1955.
Post-Vatican II Catholicism (1970–present) In the
1970 revision of the
Roman Missal, this day was designated the "Fourth Sunday of Easter," and the "Iubilate Deo" introit for this Sunday was swapped with that of
the preceding Sunday. The preceding Sunday's Gospel reading was likewise moved forward to this day. Because this Gospel reading is the parable of the
Good Shepherd, the Fourth Sunday of Easter is now also known as
Good Shepherd Sunday (a name formerly given to the
Third Sunday of Easter to which the reading was originally assigned). In 1964,
Pope Paul VI established a
World Day of Prayer for Vocations to coincide with Good Shepherd Sunday, now celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Easter. For this reason, this day is also known in the Catholic Church as
Vocations Sunday. The
Church of England also celebrates Vocations Sunday on this day.
Lutheranism Johann Sebastian Bach composed three
church cantatas for the
Lutheran celebration of Jubilate Sunday. These cantatas incorporated the readings traditionally prescribed for this day: the epistle () and the Gospel (). •
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12, April 22, 1714 •
Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, BWV 103, April 22, 1725 •
Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146, May 12, 1726, or April 18, 1728 In the
Revised Common Lectionary currently used by many Lutherans, the Gospel reading is the
Good Shepherd passage. == Eastern Christianity ==