The "Rorate" Mass

"Rorate caeli désuper et nubes pluant justum" "Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just" The Rorate Mass is a Votive Mass in honor of the Virgin Mary for the season of Advent. It has a long tradition in the Catholic Church. The Masses had to begin relatively early in the morning when it was still dark due to winter-time and were said by candlelight.