SEPTUAGESIMA AND LENT
With Septuagesima the joys of Christmastide are brought to a close. The happy celebration wherein the Church has been recalling the birth of the Redeemer now gives way to a more serious season, in which our attention is directed towards the sorrowful events of the Saviour’s passion and death.
The three weeks from Septuagesima to Lent constitute a period of transition from a time of joy to one of sadness. With Ash Wednesday the great penitential season of the year begins. This time of Lent is marked by three distinctive features: (1) it is a period for serious reflection on death and its issues, joined, consequently, with prayer and works of mortification in imitation of our Saviour’s fast of forty days in the desert; (2) it is a time especially adapted to repentance and amendment of life, as in ancient days it was the season when the Cathechumens and penitents prepared for Baptism and absolution; (3) it is a prolonged vigil, fitting us to celebrate worthily the great week of the passion and the Feast of feasts of the Resurrection.
ANT. O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed or according to our iniquities. O Lord, remember not our former transgressions: let Thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are becoming exceedingly poor.
- V. Help us, O God our Saviour, and for the glory of Thy name, O Lord, deliver us.
- R. And forgive us our sins for Thy name’s sake.
Let us Pray
GRANT, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that chastened by this holy fast, we may be brought with pure hearts to the holy feast which is to come. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
