Day: July 19, 2017

The Season of Lent: What Differences Might We Notice in Church

When the season of Lent arrives, there are some changes that people often notice in Church. Probably the most obvious of these is that people receive ashes on Ash Wednesday.

In addition, however, the color of the vestments changes to violet. On the Fourth Sunday of Lent, which is also called Laetare Sunday, as the Lenten season is already half over, the joy of the Easter is a bit anticipated, and on that day rose colored vestments may be used.

Also, the hymn Glory to God in the highest is omitted at Mass, and the Alleluia before the gospel is replaced. The Alleluia will not be heard again until the Easter Vigil.

During Lent, is it not permitted to decorate the altar with flowers. Exceptions to this, however, are Laetare Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Lent), solemnities, and feasts. In addition, the organ and other musical instruments are allowed only in order to support the singing. Again, exceptions to this would be Laetare Sunday, solemnities, and feasts.

In churches where the daily homily is not already an established practice, a homily is strongly recommended on the weekdays of Lent for the sake of the faithful who regularly take part in the celebration of Mass.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church

The Season of Lent

Lent consists of forty-four days. It begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes immediately before the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. At that time, the Sacred Paschal Triduum begins.

The season of Lent aims at preparing us for the celebration of Easter and has a twofold character. First of all, it directs the Christian faithful to recall their own baptism when they rejected the devil and confessed their faith in Christ. They are also asked at this time to engage more deeply in prayer and penance. Secondly, for those who are preparing to be baptized at the Easter Vigil, it serves as a more intense time of preparation as the moment of their baptism draws near.

During Lent, the disciplines of fasting and abstinence from meat apply on Ash Wednesday, and the discipline of abstinence from meat applies on the Fridays of Lent unless a solemnity occurs on those days.

Towards the very end of Lent, we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord when we commemorate his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and read the Passion of the Lord from one of the gospels of either Matthew, Mark, or Luke.

On Thursday of Holy Week, in the morning, the bishop concelebrates the Chrism Mass with his priests and blesses the oil of catechumens and the oil of the sick and consecrates the chrism that will be used throughout the year.

Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
www.liftupyourhearts.church