Septuagesima Season

Well, I had planned to post on the Sundays prior to Lent beginning and help explain some meaning behind the names of these Sundays which precede Lent.  Since I am a bit behind, I will combine these Sundays:

Septuagesima Sunday and Season
The ninth Sunday before Easter.  Roughly it represents 70 days which is a remembrance of the 70 years the People of Israel we wandering in the desert.  Septuagesima Sunday also begins the Season of Septuagesima.  It is also known as the "Prodigal Sunday" as the traditional reading at Mass is that of the Prodigal Son.  More information can be found here:  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13721b.htm

Sexagesima (or Sexigesima) Sunday
The Second Sunday before Lent.  As you can tell by the prefix it represents (loosely) 60 days before Easter.  The traditional Gospel reading for Sexagesima Sunday is that of the Sower.  Jesus explains "the seed is the word of God. And they by the wayside are they that hear: then the devil cometh and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved. Now they upon the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no roots: for they believe for a while, and in time of temptation they fall away. And that which fell away among thorns are they who have heard and, going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit. But on the good ground are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience." (Luke 8:4-15)  This Gospel is so anti-Calvinist it isn't funny!  I'll do a separate blog on that.  All the traditional readings for Sexagesima can be found here:  http://mysite.verizon.net/missale/sexagesima.html


Quinquagesima Sunday
Fifty Days (loosely) before Easter.  The traditional Gospel for today is from Luke 18:31-43 wherein Jesus foretells His Passion, Death and Resurrection.  So this last Sunday before Lent we are given the promise of our salvation - but also brought to our mind is the Passion and Death of our Lord.  We enter Lent the following Wednesday, Ash Wednesday for a season of penance and remembrance of what Jesus endured for us, taking our place, becoming sin and dying a horrible death on the cross then going into Hell in our place to defeat Satan and death to rise again on the third day making our salvation possible!  Glory to God in the highest!  And peace to His people on Earth!   But again, this part of the season is to call into remembrance (which has a deeper meaning in Jewish/Early Christian usage, see link) the Passion of Christ.  It is a time for us to offer something up and whenever we would think about partaking in that which we have offered up, we have a special remembrance of that which Jesus offered up for us.  

Lent is almost upon us!  Let us prepare worthily for a good Lent that we might have an even greater celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday!

In JMJ,
Scott<<<