Page 17 - The Portal magazine - March 2025

THE P RTAL March 2025 Page 17

Fr Michael Halsall writes:

Pre-Lent

NE OF the distinctive features of our Ordinariate liturgy is that we restored the
Oseason of Septuagesima, or pre-Lent: a short liturgical season which was dropped
during the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Septuagesima
is the name given to the three consecutive Sundays preceding Ash Wednesday.

It is named after the first of these - Septuagesima we need Him (1 Corinthians 3:9). If this forthcoming
Sunday - which occurs roughly seventy days before Lent is to be different and more fruitful than previous
Easter (septuagesima is Latin for “seventieth”). ones, then consider the following: firstly, begin Lent by
Sexagesima (“sixtieth”) Sunday comes next, followed making a sacramental confession, giving proper place
by Quinquagesima (“fiftieth”) Sunday on the Sunday to the idea of Shrove Tuesday (not ‘Pancake Tuesday’).
before Ash Wednesday. These named Sundays The name Shrove comes from an Old English word
prevailed in the various revisions of the Church of shriven, meaning absolved of sins, reflecting the time
England’s Book of Common Prayer and serves as a of confession and repentance during Lent. Secondly,
link with its rich and distinctively English liturgical choose a Lenten penance which has value to the body,
heritage. mind, and soul. Our patron – St John Henry Newman
– is helpful here:
In order to effect a gradual transition between the joy “fasting is only one branch of a large and
of Christmastide and Epiphanytide, and the stringency momentous duty, the subdual of ourselves to
of Lent, the season of Pre-Lent takes on some of the Christ. We must surrender to Him all we have,
sobriety of the latter, but without its harshness. During all we are. We must keep nothing back. We must
the Mass in this short season the Gloria in excelsis present to Him as captive prisoners with whom
Deo is omitted, and the Alleluia is replaced with a He may do what He will, our soul and body,
Tract: a Scripture sequence, focusing on the Sunday’s our reason, our judgement, our affections, our
theme. Some Catholic communities which are still imagination, our tastes, our appetite”.
allowed sole use of the 1962 Latin Missal carry out (Sermon 5. Surrender to God.
a liturgical rite of burying a plaque or written image First Sunday in Lent, 12th March 1848)
of the Alleluia, marking its absence until the glorious
Easter vigil. Purple or violet is the liturgical colour of The Church dispenses the discipline of fasting for
the vestments. those who are over 60 years of age: so what are we
to do instead, but take on a task leading us to the
Pre-Lent serves as a ‘warming up’ period to ‘Lent surrendering of our lives to Christ. We could take up
proper’, rather like an athlete warming up for an a daily discipline, such as praying a complete mystery
event, or allowing a car to warm up and circulate the of the Rosary, giving it time and reflection. We could
oil around the engine prior to driving off. Many of us follow the readings in the Divine Worship: Daily
quickly fail in our chosen Lenten observance because Office, morning and evening, if the full Office is too
we do not give it proper consideration beforehand, and much. Cancelling social appointments during Holy
it comes as an unrealistic challenge as Ash Wednesday Week, and going to mass daily would be a special way
arrives. Now would be a good time to consider what of entering into the drama of the Passion, so making
the Lord is asking you to do during the forthcoming our celebration of Easter more profound and complete.
holy season of grace, as our small efforts are joined Either way, spend some time in the next few days in
with the many graces that we gain along the way. prayer, discerning what it is that is best for you during
this holy season.
Very few of us can keep our Lenten fast or chosen task
whilst ‘going it alone’. On no fewer than eleven times in Wishing you all a blessed and holy Lent.
the New Testament St Paul uses the language of ‘fellow Fr Michael Halsall is the Episcopal Vicar
worker’ in Christ, regarding those who assisted him
in his calling as an Apostle. Similarly, and perhaps for Vocations & Formation, lecturer at Allen
more importantly, St Paul identifies each of us as God’s Hall Seminary, and Group Pastor
‘fellow workers’, in that we co-operate with God’s work He may be contacted at
in living and proclaiming the Gospel: He needs us and michael.halsall@ordinariate.org.uk