Pre-Lent begins the Christian time of preparation for Easter , in the three weeks before Lent . This period launches a campaign of catechesis , reflected in the liturgical readings. Its best-known feature is its concluding three-day festival, Carnival or Shrovetide .
7-658: The pre-Lenten period begins with Septuagesima , first documented in Gregory the Great . It traditionally opens a period of religious instruction leading to the reception of catechumens at Easter, supported by events such as mystery plays . The traditional lectionary for the canonical hours summarizes salvation history between Septuagesima and Easter, beginning with a reading of the Book of Genesis . The last three days of pre-Lent are known as Carnival , Shrovetide , or Fastelavn ,
14-578: A festival ending with Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras . The liturgy of the period is characterized by violet vestments (except on feasts) and a more penitential mood. From Septuagesima, Alleluia is not traditionally sung in worship. 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
21-641: A pre-Lenten period, the Roman Rite after 1970 eliminated Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima. 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
28-682: A pre-Lenten provision. In the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches, the pre-Lenten period lasts three weeks. 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 . Since the liturgical day begins at sunset, and Great Lent begins on a Monday, the point at which Great Lent begins
35-466: 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
42-527: The Middle Ages of children burying an Alleluia on Septuagesima Eve. It is possible for Candlemas (2 February) to fall after Septuagesima Sunday, creating occasional musical challenges. 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: While Lutheran and Anglican liturgies continue to mark
49-544: 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. A custom developed during
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