F E AT U R E
CELEBRATING THE SUNDAYS IN LENT “LENT IS A JOURNEY THAT INVOLVES OUR WHOLE LIFE, OUR ENTIRE BEING. IT IS A TIME TO RECONSIDER THE PATH WE ARE TAKING, TO FIND THE ROUTE THAT LEADS US HOME AND TO REDISCOVER OUR PROFOUND RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, ON WHOM EVERYTHING DEPENDS. LENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE LITTLE SACRIFICES WE MAKE, BUT ABOUT DISCERNING WHERE OUR HEARTS ARE DIRECTED. THIS IS THE CORE OF LENT.” – POPE FRANCIS BY MARIA HALL
ARE SUNDAYS PART OF LENT? In the early days of the church, spiritual preparation for Easter was varied. Irenaeus and Tertullian speak of a period of two days (or 40 hours), the time that Christ was in the tomb. In the 3rd century, Dionysus records Christians undertaking a six-day fast, and Socrates writes that the Christians in Rome undertook a three-week fast. It wasn’t till the Council of Nicaea in 325AD that a formal period of time was set to 40 days. But even in these early days, Sunday was different! Even at the time of Nicaea, abstinence, fasting and other acts of penance did not feature on Sundays. In the 6th century, Pope Gregory preached that “we do not fast on the six Sundays.” Sunday has always been the Day of the Lord’s Resurrection and so always a day of joy! Liturgically, Sundays are an integral part of Lent, but in terms of Lenten observances, we take a rest, reset, celebrate the Resurrection and remember what is important. THE LITURGY In recent years, since Vatican II, the church has strived to emphasise the ‘twofold character’ of Lent: preparation and joy. The liturgy reflects both. The Scripture readings are an obvious place to start, but there are other gems within the Mass that would be worth focusing on: the Entrance Antiphons and the Psalm responses. 20 REALITY MARCH 2022
Too often, the Entrance Antiphon is treated as an optional extra. But it is part of the text of the Mass and the primary resource for the Entrance Chant! “Its purpose is to open the celebration, foster the unity of those who have been gathered, introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical time or festivity, and accompany the procession of the Priest and ministers.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) So we should be using it in preference to, or as well as, a hymn. These are some phrases from this year’s Entrance Antiphons: When he calls on me… I will deliver him and give him the glory… My eyes are always on the Lord… You, O God are my strength… These proclamations speak of the Lord as the focus of our trust and faith. They are beautiful phrases to pray during the week. They are great for the classroom too. Just repeat them three times. The same applies to the Psalm responses which are also positive in mood: The Lord is my light and my help! Taste and see that the Lord is good! What marvels the Lord worked for us; indeed we were glad!
They are words that remind us of the love of God, ultimately expressed in the joy of the Resurrection, which of course we celebrate every Sunday. During Lent, the liturgy temporarily suspends words of rejoicing. Firstly, the Gloria, the song of the angels praising God. Without it, the Penitential Rite stands out stark and alone. Our preparation for Easter involves us trying to be better people, looking at our failings and examining our lives. In my parish this is the time of the year when we sing the Penitential Rite (also in Advent), giving it that added emphasis. The Alleluia, also an expression of joy, is also omitted. Then when Easter arrives, it is wonderful to sing it so many times over! In Lent, the use of music is limited; any instruments should only be used to support singing. This has the effect of creating a very plain celebration, reminding us of the sombre aspects of the season. The liturgical environment also has a part to play; the General Instruction of the Roman Missal says “During Lent it is forbidden for the altar to be decorated with flowers. Exceptions, however, are Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent), Solemnities, and Feasts. Floral decoration should always show moderation and be arranged around the altar rather than on the altar table.”
