Septuagesima

Septuagesima (in full, Septuagesima Sunday), an observance no longer in use except in the "traditional" calendars, was the name given to the third from the last Sunday before Lent in the Catholic and Anglican churches. The term was sometimes applied to the period of the liturgical year which began on this day and lasted through Shrove Tuesday (with the following day being Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins). This period was also known as the Pre-Lenten season or Shrovetide. The next two Sundays were labelled Sexagesima and Quinquagesima, the latter sometimes also called Shrove Sunday. The earliest Septuagesima Sunday could occur was January 18 (Easter falling on March 22 in nonleap year) and the latest was February 22 (Easter falling on April 25 in leap year).

Origins of the term

Septuagesima comes from the Latin word for "seventieth," with Sexagesima and Quinquagesima equalling "sixtieth" and "fiftieth" respectively. The most logical explanation for the use of these terms is that they denote the approximate number of days between each and Easter (the actual respective numbers being 63, 56 and 49). Some have theorized, however, that Septuagesima may have been added to the liturgical calendar to commemorate the Babylonian Captivity, which lasted 70 years (there is evidence that some early Christians began fasting 70 days before Easter, but whether that custom originated from this is not entirely clear).

Devotional and liturgical practices

The 17-day period beginning on Septuagesima Sunday was intended to be observed as a preparation for the season of Lent, which of course is itself a period of spiritual preparation (for Easter); in many countries, however, Septuagesima Sunday marked the traditional start of the carnival season, culminating on Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Mardi Gras.

In the Roman Catholic liturgy, the Alleluia ceased to be sung during Mass, effective on Septuagesima Sunday, not to be sung again until Easter. Likewise, violet vestments are worn, except on feasts, during the period from Septuagesima Sunday until Holy Thursday. The first reading for the day was taken from Genesis and focused on Adam's fall and resulting expulsion from the Garden of Eden, while the Gospel reading contained the parable of the Prodigal Son.

Liturgical reforms

With the liturgical reforms adopted after the Second Vatican Council, Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays were dropped and the period encompassing them became part of Ordinary Time; because of this, the use of violet vestments and omission of "Alleluia" in the liturgy would not start until Ash Wednesday. This took effect in 1970 in the Catholic Church and six years later the Anglican Churches. In the Anglican Churches these Sundays are known as the last three "Sundays after Epiphany."

Vestiges of the season

A version of the season still does exist in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, and is known as Triódion (although it is only 15 days long and not 17 since the Eastern Orthodox Lent commences on a Monday instead of a Wednesday).

Traditionalist Catholics continue to celebrate this season both at Mass and in the Breviary.

See also

Ordinary Time

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