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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
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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.
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.”
LAETARE SUNDAY
This day has always been a busy Lenten Sunday. In his book The Externals of the Catholic Church, John F. Sullivan says, “The Church has a note of joy in her liturgy… It is, as it were, a relaxation of the penance, a gleam of light in the gloom of the Lenten time.”
Its name comes from the entrance antiphon and mirrors Gaudete Sunday in Advent. Gaudete is an exuberant joy while Laetare is an expectant joy. On this Sunday, the priest wears rose (not pink!) vestments to remind us and give us hope that the time for celebration is approaching. When Lent was only three weeks long, this Sunday would have been the day before it began, so it is possible that it was a day of feasting, similar to Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras.
This was also the time when catechumens received the texts of the Creed and the Our Father. It was a celebration of their journey towards Easter.
In ancient Rome, people wore flowers to celebrate the victory of spring over winter. This led to the pope blessing a real rose and presenting it to distinguished and worthy recipients as a sign of friendship and thanksgiving. The real rose eventually became an ornate golden one – Wilhemena of Brunswick’s rose in the 17th century weighed 20 pounds! Traditionally, recipients have been members of royalty and great leaders. Most recently, Pope Benedict began the custom of presenting a rose to shrines of Our Lady.
This ancient tradition is the probable origin for priests wearing the colour rose on this day. I have seen photos of some parishes taking the theme to the extreme, where the entire Sunday congregation was dressed in pink. A little over the top!
Mid-Lent Sunday is also the origin of Mothering Sunday. The opening words of the Entrance Antiphon are “Rejoice Jerusalem”. There is the historical city of Jerusalem, but this also refers to the Holy City of God’s Kingdom, the Body of Christ, the Mystical Body and Mother Church to which we all belong. This concept of ‘mother’ has led to the development of many local customs. In the 16th century, the relaxation of fasting and observances gave those working in apprenticeship, or on the land away from home, the opportunity to visit their Mother Church and, of course, their own mothers (some would have left home as young as ten years old). When we give flowers to our mothers, we can also remember the beautiful spring symbolism of new life and new hope that occurs in Lent.
PASSION SUNDAY
Before 1969, the Sunday before Palm Sunday was called Passion Sunday. Pope Paul VI renamed Palm Sunday, giving it the full title ‘Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord’. This was the day on which all statues and crucifixes in the church were veiled. In Germany it was known as ‘Black Sunday’, though in most places violet veils were used. Though the day is now called the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the practice of veiling is re-emerging in many places, providing a powerful visual reminder of the coming Passion.
PALM SUNDAY
Waving palm branches dates back to the 4th century. It forms part of Egeria’s detailed account of Holy Week celebrations in Jerusalem. By the 7th century it was known in Western Europe as Palm Sunday. In the 9th century, Theodulph of Orleans was in prison (accused of conspiracy against Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne). He heard the palm procession from his cell and was inspired to sing his newly composed hymn ‘All glory laud and honour’. The story goes that as Louis processed past the cell, he heard the hymn and was so inspired that he ordered Theodulph’s immediate release!
RCIA
The Early Christian Church used the period before Easter as a time of preparation for adult baptism. After centuries of decline in adult catechesis, this was restored by Pope Paul VI in 1972. The Rite of Election coincides with the First Sunday of Lent; then during Lent there are a series of three Scrutinies and the restored presentation of the Creed and Our Father. Being aware of this process can be a source of inspiration and renewal for us, especially if we are ‘cradle’ Catholics and never made a conscious decision to be members of the church. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to scrutinise our own lives and seek to improve our relationship with God and with each other.
O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones. Let me find you again. Amen. - Henri Neuwen
Each year we are given the opportunity to prepare for and see the Paschal Mystery with a new vision. Pope Francis said, “Lent comes providentially to awaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.”
Let’s not see the Sundays just as a time to break the fast, but to celebrate the Sunday liturgy with noble simplicity. Let’s remember its place as the ‘primordial feast day’, and celebrate the hope and the joy that the season brings:
Each year you give us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed. You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you, our Father, and of willing service to our neighbour. As we recall the great events that gave us a new life in Christ, you bring to perfection within us the image of your Son. - Preface of Lent 1
