Pre-Lent

We are now entering the liturgical season of pre-Lent. 

The pre-Lenten Sundays have unusual names, the origins of which are somewhat obscure—Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima. These names seem to imply that the Sundays indicate seventy, sixty, and fifty days before Easter, by analogy with Lent, which contains forty days (plus Sundays) before Easter. But in fact the third Sunday before Lent is not seventy days before Easter.

The significance of the season, whatever its  origins, is that we prepare our hearts for Lent, which in turn will give us time to prepare our hearts for Easter. The pre-Lenten season is thus penitential, and its liturgical color is purple. The collects begin to turn our hearts to repentance, and the last of the collects reminds us of the necessity of charity.

The collect for Septuagesima Sunday

O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

The collect for Sexagesima Sunday

O Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The collect for Quinquagesima Sunday

O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.