Rogation Days are penitential days within the Catholic faith that are observed to ask for God’s protection and mercy, for a good harvest, and the protection of land, animal, and people. Varying sources give different dates of origin, but it is an ancient custom that dates back to the early Church. Catholics are actually not the only Christians who observe Rogation Days. They are still observed amongst Anglicans and some Lutherans.

Sometimes called the Major and Minor Litanies, Cross Days, Rogationtide, and Beating the Bounds, Rogation days are not always described as taking place in the same way. There are, however some things that are consistent.

April 25th is always the Major Rogation Day, and though the dates change from year to year for the Minor Rogation Days, they are always observed the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Thursday. They are all penitential days, and as such, a time of abstinence from meat. The litany of the saints is always prayed, and ideally, a procession of some sort takes place around the boundaries of a farm or an entire parish, with prayers said throughout for good weather and crops, the safety of animals and farmers and protection of buildings. Various sources list the days as beginning with Mass or ending with Mass, but as Rogation Days are no longer widely observed there may not be a liturgy available for you to attend. If you are able to find a Mass to go to that day, it is encouraged that you do so.

In my research into Rogation Days and their traditions, I received the information below, including the picture, from a priest who is part of an order that once served our local area. (He is speaking of the early to mid 1900s.) He said there were three primary prayers that went with this tradition:

Aspects of these observations that vary include how the procession is done and where. It was once common practice to walk the entire perimeter of the parish and “beat the bounds”. People quiet literally walked the boundary with sticks and beat the marking posts of the parish boundary. Sometimes a younger child was given a “beating”, too, to help them remember the boundaries. While this still occurs in some places, it has largely fallen out of practice. In more recent history, as old traditions are making a comeback, processions often happen on the farms or homesteads of interested families.

Historically, these processions may have stopped at particular landmarks, such as a specific tree or a house, or they may have a shrine at which they to stop and pray. Landmarks that were natural (such as trees) were sometimes replaced by more permanent markers, such as stone pillars. Items carried in procession range from flowers to dragons, to banners and relics.

In my research on Rogation processions, there was talk of shrines being installed at the corner posts of a property line where the people would stop and pray. Not too far from the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion near Green Bay, Wisconsin, there is an old Rogation marker shrine still standing.

Below is a list things people do or have done throughout history. For the procession, take what works for you and leave what doesn’t! Maybe you won’t have enough time before the next Rogation Day to prepare the things you would like. That’s okay, just do what you are able. Simply saying the prayers and abstaining is a wonderful way to participate. Though I know there are those who would tend to be sticklers for following some particular format, sometimes we just need to begin with what resources we have available. It’s important to remember that we may face time and financial constraints among other things, and that these processions are no longer a requirement or common practice.

• Prayers and Readings (Catholic Rural Life has a Rogation Day Observation Guide that you can download and print that contains the prayers and readings used on Rogation Days.)
• Singing hymns: Some suggestions- O Jesus Crowned with all Renown, For the Beauty of the Earth, Now the Green Blade Rises
• Abstain from meat on all rogation days
• Have a procession
  • liturgical banners
  • lanterns
  • a bier with relic
  • bells
  • thurible and incense
  • holy water and aspergillum (or other item to sprinkle the people, places, animals, and things, such as a bundle of leaves)
  • processional cross
  • flowers and garlands of greens
  • dragon* (see note below)

The dragon for the procession comes from the medieval time period and is no longer an active practice, at least that I could find. This would have been used for the Minor Rogation Days as far as I can tell, and not necessarily the Major Rogation Day. The dragon represents Satan and the influential power he has had over the world. The dragon leads the procession for the first two days, and its tail is puffed up. On the third day, the dragon follows at the end of the procession with its tail hanging down, symbolizing Christ’s victory. We still continue to be tempted to sin, which is why the dragon continues to follow. When the processions would take place, the dragon would have been placed out of site at the shrines or places of prayer, and then picked up again when the procession would continue, showing that Satan has no right over what belongs to God. On the third day, after the processions have ended, the dragon was sometimes trampled by the people who participated to signify the death of sin. Trampling the dragon is a vivid reminder that we can reject sin. We can turn away from what is evil, from sin that seems to have a grip on us, because God always conquers.

Another common feature of processions that had a dragon was a lion banner. The lion would follow the dragon on the first two days and then lead on the third day, the lion symbolizing Christ. This is a reminder that God is always near, even when we go astray, and that He conquers all. It calls to mind the title “Lion of Judah,” which describes Jesus’ salvific work. These traditions are powerful reminders that we are frequently led astray, and though despite the fact that we do not deserve God’s mercy, He gives it to us anyway. He frees us from a life of sin, darkness and damnation.

Our very first time observing a Rogation day was for the Major Litany (or Rogation Day) on April 25th of 2025. We scrambled to pull things together as we hadn’t planned far enough in advance, but we had about a month to prepare for the Minor days, and so we made banners, a dragon, and a bier for our relic. My husband had many relatives that were Religious, and one was a godmother to his grandfather. The relic is of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, whom his grandfather was named for. The idea of carrying a relic in procession is that we have a piece of a saint (or something that belonged to them) that can literally process with us. We carry the saints with us in our hearts and prayers, but with a relic, they are present in a totally different way. What a great reminder that we are all pilgrims on this journey!

In Christ,
Danielle