Pre-Lent

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Pre-Lent
Print, book-illustration (BM 1927,0210.8).jpg
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard: print for Septuagesima
Celebrations
Observances Catechesis
Beginson Septuagesima
Endson Shrove Tuesday
Date Variable (follows the paschal computus)
2023 date5 February–21 February
2024 date28 January–13 February
2025 date16 February–4 March
FrequencyAnnual (lunar calendar)
Related to Lent, Easter

Pre-Lent begins the Christian time of preparation for Easter, in the three weeks before Lent. [1] This period launches a campaign of catechesis, reflected in the liturgical readings. [2] Its best-known feature is its concluding three-day festival, Carnival or Shrovetide. [3]

Contents

Western Churches

The pre-Lenten period begins with Septuagesima, first documented in Gregory the Great. [4] [5] It traditionally opens a period of religious instruction leading to the reception of catechumens at Easter, [2] supported by events such as mystery plays. [6] The traditional lectionary for the canonical hours summarizes salvation history between Septuagesima and Easter, beginning with a reading of the Book of Genesis. [7] The last three days of pre-Lent are known as Carnival, Shrovetide, or Fastelavn, a festival ending with Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. [8] [9]

The liturgy of the period is characterized by violet vestments (except on feasts) and a more penitential mood. [10] From Septuagesima, Alleluia is not traditionally sung in worship. [10] A sermon of Hildebert explains the logic of this practice:

Moreover this day, which is, as it were, the gate of the fast, and takes away from us the song of joy, that is, Alleluia, shows our state of penitence and sorrow, teaching us that we ought to cease from immoderate joy, and remain in tears of repentance. We therefore repeat the hymn again and again, and address Alleluia itself, desirous of retaining it as a guest, and saying to it, Abide with us, for the day is far spent; and we then give it our last farewell, saying, The good angel of the Lord accompany you, that you may return again to us; that we may know that we shall not have perfect joy, until, renewed by the Body and Blood of our Redeemer, we receive that song with gladness. [11]

A custom developed during the Middle Ages of children burying an Alleluia on Septuagesima Eve. [12] It is possible for Candlemas (2 February) to fall after Septuagesima Sunday, creating occasional musical challenges. [13]

The pre-Lenten period includes three Sundays, whose names refer to the approximate periods of seventy, sixty, and fifty days before Easter. The Sundays are also known by the opening word of the introit for the day: [14]

While Lutheran and Anglican liturgies continue to mark a pre-Lenten period, the Roman Rite after 1970 eliminated Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima. [19] The preconciliar rites after the Second Vatican Council also continue to mark these seventeen days. The Revised Common Lectionary does not does not associate particular readings with the Sundays before Lent, but some users of this lectionary, such as the Church of England, have retrofitted a pre-Lenten provision. [20]

Eastern Churches

In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, the pre-Lenten period lasts three weeks. [1] It begins on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and continues through the Sunday of Forgiveness, the day before the beginning of Great Lent. [21] Since the liturgical day begins at sunset, and Great Lent begins on a Monday, the point at which Great Lent begins is at Vespers on the night of the Sunday of Forgiveness, with a ceremony of mutual forgiveness. In some monasteries, this ceremony is performed at Compline instead of Vespers.

Thus begins the first day of the Great Fast, which is known as Clean Monday. The weeks of pre-Lent and Great Lent are anticipatory by nature. They begin on Monday and end on Sunday, each week being named for the theme of the upcoming Sunday. The hymns used during the pre-Lenten and Lenten seasons are taken from a book called the Triodion.

The weeks of the pre-Lenten Season break are:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinquagesima</span> Sunday before Ash Wednesday

Quinquagesima, in the Western Christian Churches, is the last pre-Lent Sunday, being the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, and the first day of Shrovetide or Carnival. It is also called Quinquagesima Sunday, Quinquagesimae, Estomihi, Shrove Sunday, Pork Sunday, or the Sunday next before Lent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Lent</span> Observance in Eastern Christianity

Great Lent, or the Great Fast, is the most important fasting season of the church year within many denominations of Eastern Christianity. It is intended to prepare Christians for the greatest feast of the church year, Pascha (Easter).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liturgical year</span> Annually recurring fixed sequence of Christian feast days

The liturgical year, also called the church year, Christian year or kalendar, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in Christian churches that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of Scripture are to be read either in an annual cycle or in a cycle of several years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Septuagesima</span> Third Sunday before Ash Wednesday

Septuagesima is the name for the ninth Sunday before Easter, the third before Ash Wednesday. The term is sometimes applied to the seventy days starting on Septuagesima Sunday and ending on the Saturday after Easter. Alternatively, the term is sometimes applied also to the period sometimes called pre-Lent that begins on this day and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins.

Alleluia is a phrase in Christianity used to give praise to God. In Christian worship, Alleluia is used as a liturgical chant in which that word is combined with verses of scripture, usually from the Psalms. This chant is commonly used before the proclamation of the Gospel. In Western Christianity, congregations commonly cease using the word Alleluia during the period of Lent but restore it into their services at Easter. The form of praise "Alleluia" is used by Christians to thank and glorify God; it finds itself present in many prayers and hymns, especially those related to Eastertide, such as "Christ the Lord is Risen Today".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexagesima</span> Second Sunday before Ash Wednesday

Sexagesima, or, in full, Sexagesima Sunday, is the name for the second Sunday before Ash Wednesday in the pre-1970 Roman Rite liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, and also in that of some Protestant denominations, particularly those with Lutheran and Anglican origins. Sexagesima falls within pre-Lent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastertide</span> Festal season in the liturgical year of Christianity

Eastertide or Paschaltide is a festal season in the liturgical year of Christianity that focuses on celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Preceded by Lent, it begins on Easter Sunday, which initiates Easter Week in Western Christianity, and Bright Week in Eastern Christianity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lectionary</span> Book of approved scripture readings in Abrahamic religions

A lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Jewish worship on a given day or occasion. There are sub-types such as a "gospel lectionary" or evangeliary, and an epistolary with the readings from the New Testament Epistles.

The Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar describes and dictates the rhythm of the life of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Passages of Holy Scripture, saints and events for commemoration are associated with each date, as are many times special rules for fasting or feasting that correspond to the day of the week or time of year in relationship to the major feast days.

The Paschal cycle, in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is the cycle of the moveable feasts built around Pascha (Easter). The cycle consists of approximately ten weeks before and seven weeks after Pascha. The ten weeks before Pascha are known as the period of the Triodion, referring to the liturgical book that contains the services for this liturgical season. This period includes the three weeks preceding Great Lent, the "pre-Lenten period", the forty days of Lent, and Holy Week. The 50 days following Pascha are called the Pentecostarion, also named after the liturgical book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrove Monday</span> Monday before Ash Wednesday

Shrove Monday is part of the Shrovetide or Carnival observances and celebrations of the week before Lent, following Quinquagesima or Shrove Sunday and preceding Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras.

The Apostles' Fast, also called the Fast of the Holy Apostles, the Fast of Peter and Paul, or sometimes St. Peter's Fast, is a fast observed by Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, and Reformed Orthodox Christians. In the Byzantine tradition, the Fast begins on the second Monday after Pentecost, whereas in the Coptic and old Syriac traditions, the Fast begins on the first Monday after Pentecost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gospel (liturgy)</span> Reading from the Gospels used during various religious services

The Gospel in Christian liturgy refers to a reading from the Gospels used during various religious services, including Mass or Divine Liturgy (Eucharist). In many Christian churches, all present stand when a passage from one of the Gospels is read publicly, and sit when a passage from a different part of the Bible is read. The reading of the Gospels, often contained in a liturgical edition containing only the four Gospels, is traditionally done by a minister, priest or deacon, and in many traditions the Gospel Book is brought into the midst of the congregation to be read.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentecostarion</span> Liturgical book in Eastern Christianity

The Pentecostarion is the liturgical book used by the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches during the Paschal Season which extends from Pascha (Easter) to the Sunday following All Saints Sunday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triodion</span> Liturgical book in Eastern Orthodoxy and Byzantine Rite Catholicism

The Triodion, also called the Lenten Triodion, is a liturgical book used by the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches. The book contains the propers for the fasting period preceding Pascha (Easter) and for the weeks leading up to the fast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lent</span> Annual pre-Easter Christian observance

Lent is the solemn Christian religious observance in the liturgical year commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry. Lent is usually observed in the Catholic, Lutheran, Moravian, Anglican, United Protestant and Orthodox Christian traditions, among others. Some Anabaptist, Baptist, Methodist, Reformed, and nondenominational Christian churches also observe Lent, although many churches in these traditions do not.

The Easter cycle is the sequence of the seasons and days in the Christian liturgical year which are pegged to the date of Easter, either before or after it. In any given calendar year, the timing of events within the Easter cycle is dependent on the calculation of the date of Easter itself.

The Three Sundays of Commemoration are three consecutive Sundays before Lent during which the Maronite rite remembers the departed. It does not replace but supplement the commemoration of Feast of All Saints and the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed in November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrovetide</span> Liturgical period

Shrovetide is the liturgical period prior to the start of Lent that begins on Shrove Saturday and ends at the close of Shrove Tuesday. The season focuses on examination of conscience and repentance before the Lenten fast. It includes Shrove Saturday, Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday and Shrove Tuesday.

References

  1. 1 2 Taft, Robert F. (1991). "Year, Liturgical". In Každan, Aleksandr Petrovič (ed.). The Oxford dictionary of Byzantium. New York: Oxford university press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195046526.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-19-504652-6.
  2. 1 2 Chavesse, Antoine (1950). "Temps de préparation à la Pâque d'après quelques livres liturgiques romains" . Recherches de Science Religieuse (in French). 37 (1): 125–145. ISSN   0034-1258.
  3. ↑ Cartlidge, Neil (2004). "The battle of Shrovetide: Carnival against Lent as a leitmotif in late medieval culture". Viator. 35: 517–542. doi:10.1484/J.VIATOR.2.300208. ISSN   0083-5897.
  4. 1 2 Crampton, L. J. (1968-04-01). "St Gregory's Homily XIX and the institution of Septuagesima Sunday". The Downside Review. 86 (283): 162–166. doi:10.1177/001258066808628306. ISSN   0012-5806. S2CID   164617825.
  5. ↑ Callewaert, Camille (1 April 1937). "L'œuvre liturgique de S. Grégoire. La septuagésime et l'alleluia". Revue d'Histoire Ecclésiastique (in French). 33 (2): 306–326. ISSN   0035-2381. ProQuest   1302425959.
  6. ↑ Craig, Hardin (1913-04-01). "The origin of the Old Testament plays". Modern Philology. 10 (4): 473–487. doi:10.1086/386899. ISSN   0026-8232. JSTOR   386899. S2CID   161763679.
  7. ↑ Willis, Geoffrey G. (1958-04-01). "The historical background of the English lectionary of 1955". The Journal of Ecclesiastical History. 9 (1): 73–86. doi:10.1017/S0022046900063880. ISSN   0022-0469. S2CID   162572706.
  8. ↑ "Shrovetide (n.)" . Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/OED/2819425396. The period comprising Quinquagesima Sunday and the two following days, 'Shrove' Monday and Tuesday.(Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  9. ↑ Simpson, Jacqueline; Roud, Stephen (2000). "Shrovetide". A dictionary of English folklore. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780198607663.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-19-210019-1.
  10. 1 2 Mahrt, William (2017). "Gregorian chant in the season of Lent". Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal. 21 (2): 93–114. doi:10.1353/atp.2017.0012. ISSN   1543-9933. S2CID   194585704.
  11. ↑ Alldrit, Nicolas (2000-03-01). "The Song of an Easter people". Theology. 103 (812): 97–107. doi:10.1177/0040571X0010300204. ISSN   0040-571X. S2CID   170166080.
  12. ↑ Harvey, Nigel (1945-06-01). "Some further notes on Suffolk folklore". Folklore. 56 (2): 269–270. doi:10.1080/0015587X.1945.9717772. ISSN   0015-587X.
  13. ↑ Procter, Michael (2008). "Byrd's music for Candlemas". Sacred Music. 135 (1): 24–29. ISSN   0036-2255. ProQuest   232421717.
  14. ↑ Hiley, David (2010). "Septuagesima". In Bjork, Robert E. (ed.). The Oxford dictionary of the Middle Ages. Oxford: Oxford university press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780198662624.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-19-866262-4.
  15. ↑ Lovell, H.F. (1947-01-01). "Septuagesima: The call to endurance". The Expository Times. 58 (4): 103–104. doi:10.1177/001452464705800413. ISSN   0014-5246. S2CID   221079137.
  16. ↑ Urkevich, Lisa (2012). "The wings of the Bourbon: The early provenance of the chansonnier London, British Library, MS. Royal 20 A. XVI". Journal of the Alamire Foundation. 4 (1): 91–113. doi:10.1484/J.JAF.1.102609. ISSN   2032-5371.
  17. ↑ Collins, H. B. (1923). "Byrd's Latin Church music: For practical use in the Roman liturgy". Music & Letters. 4 (3): 254–260. doi:10.1093/ml/IV.3.254. ISSN   0027-4224. JSTOR   726958.
  18. ↑ Leaver, Robin A. (1975). "Bach's understanding and use of the Epistles and Gospels of the Church year". Bach. 6 (4): 4–13. ISSN   0005-3600. JSTOR   41639962.
  19. ↑ Pristas, Lauren (2010-07-01). "Parachuted into Lent: The suppression of Septuagesima". Usus Antiquior. 1 (2): 95–109. doi:10.1179/175789410X12729674260985. ISSN   1757-8949.
  20. ↑ Church of England, ed. (2000). Common worship: services and prayers for the Church of England. London: Church House. ISBN   978-0-7151-2000-2.
  21. ↑ Pfatteicher, Philip H. (2013-09-26). Journey into the heart of God: Living the liturgical year. New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199997121.001.0001. ISBN   978-0-19-936782-5.
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