View source for Pre-Lent

{{Short description|Start of the preparation time for Easter}}
{{Infobox holiday
 | holiday_name  = Pre-Lent
 | type          = christianity
 | image         = Print, book-illustration (BM 1927,0210.8).jpg
 | imagesize     = 
 | caption       = The [[Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard]]: print for [[Septuagesima]]
 | official_name = 
 | nickname      = 
 | observedby    = 
 | litcolor      = 
 | longtype      = 
 | significance  = 
 | begins        = {{blist
 | On [[Septuagesima]] (Western)
 | On [[Pharisee and the Publican#Commemoration|Sunday Of The Publican And Pharisee]] (Eastern)
 }}
 | ends          = {{blist
 | On [[Shrove Tuesday]] (Western)
 | On [[Maslenitsa#Sunday of Forgiveness|Sunday of Forgiveness]] (Eastern)
}}
 | date          = [[#Date and duration|Variable]] (follows the [[Date of Easter|paschal computus]])
 | date{{LASTYEAR}} = {{Unbulleted list 
 | {{Moveable date |holiday=Septuagesima |format=infobox |year={{LASTYEAR}} |df=dmy}} – {{Moveable date |holiday=Shrove Tuesday |format=infobox |year={{LASTYEAR}} |df=dmy}} (Western)
 | {{#time: j F| {{Calendar date |holiday=Clean Monday |year={{LASTYEAR}} }}-22 days}} – {{#time: j F| {{Calendar date |holiday=Clean Monday |year={{LASTYEAR}} }}-1 day}} (Eastern) }}
 | date{{CURRENTYEAR}} = {{Unbulleted list 
 | {{Moveable date |holiday=Septuagesima |format=infobox |year={{CURRENTYEAR}} |df=dmy}} – {{Moveable date |holiday=Shrove Tuesday |format=infobox |year={{CURRENTYEAR}} |df=dmy}} (Western) 
 | {{#time: j F| {{Calendar date |holiday=Clean Monday |year={{CURRENTYEAR}} }}-22 days}} – {{#time: j F| {{Calendar date |holiday=Clean Monday |year={{CURRENTYEAR}} }}-1 day}} (Eastern) }}
 | date{{NEXTYEAR}} = {{Unbulleted list 
 | {{Moveable date |holiday=Septuagesima |format=infobox |year={{NEXTYEAR}} |df=dmy}} – {{Moveable date |holiday=Shrove Tuesday |format=infobox |year={{NEXTYEAR}} |df=dmy}} (Western) 
 | {{#time: j F| {{Calendar date |holiday=Clean Monday |year={{NEXTYEAR}} }}-22 days}} – {{#time: j F| {{Calendar date |holiday=Clean Monday |year={{NEXTYEAR}} }}-1 day}} (Eastern) }}
 | duration      = 2.5 weeks
 | frequency     = Annual ([[Paschal full moon|lunar calendar]])
 | celebrations  = {{plainlist|
* [[Carnival]]
* Omission of [[Alleluia]]
}}
 | observances   = [[Catechesis]]
 | relatedto     = [[Lent]], [[Great Lent]], [[Holy Week]], [[Easter]]
}}
{{Liturgical year}}
'''Pre-Lent''' begins the [[Christian]] time of preparation for [[Easter]], in the three weeks before [[Lent]].<ref name="Taft">{{Cite book |editor-last=Každan |editor-first=Aleksandr Petrovič |title=The Oxford dictionary of Byzantium |date=1991 |publisher=Oxford university press |isbn=978-0-19-504652-6 |last=Taft |first=Robert F. |location=New York |chapter=Year, Liturgical |doi=10.1093/acref/9780195046526.001.0001}}</ref> This period launches a campaign of [[catechesis]], reflected in the [[Christian liturgy|liturgical]] readings.<ref name="Chavesse">{{Cite journal |last=Chavesse |first=Antoine |date=1950 |title=Temps de préparation à la Pâque d'après quelques livres liturgiques romains |url=https://www.revue-rsr.com/note-de-lecture/temps-de-preparation-a-la-paque-dapres-quelques-livres-liturgiques-romains/ |journal=Recherches de Science Religieuse |language=fr |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=125–145 |issn=0034-1258 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Its best-known feature is its concluding three-day festival, [[Carnival]] or [[Shrovetide]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cartlidge |first=Neil |date=2004 |title=The battle of Shrovetide: Carnival against Lent as a leitmotif in late medieval culture |journal=Viator |language=en |volume=35 |pages=517–542 |doi=10.1484/J.VIATOR.2.300208 |issn=0083-5897}}</ref>

==Western Churches==
The pre-Lenten period begins with [[Septuagesima]], first documented in [[Gregory the Great]].<ref name="Crampton">{{Cite journal |last=Crampton |first=L. J. |date=1968-04-01 |title=St Gregory's Homily XIX and the institution of Septuagesima Sunday |journal=The Downside Review |language=en |volume=86 |issue=283 |pages=162–166 |doi=10.1177/001258066808628306 |s2cid=164617825 |issn=0012-5806}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Callewaert |first=Camille |date=1 April 1937 |title=L'œuvre liturgique de S. Grégoire. La septuagésime et l'alleluia |journal=Revue d'Histoire Ecclésiastique |language=fr |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=306–326 |issn=0035-2381 |id={{ProQuest|1302425959}}}}</ref> It traditionally opens a period of religious instruction leading to the reception of [[catechumens]] at Easter,<ref name="Chavesse"/> supported by events such as [[mystery plays]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Craig |first=Hardin |date=1913-04-01 |title=The origin of the Old Testament plays |journal=Modern Philology |language=en |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=473–487 |doi=10.1086/386899 |jstor=386899 |s2cid=161763679 |issn=0026-8232}}</ref> The traditional [[lectionary]] for the [[canonical hours]] summarizes [[salvation history]] between Septuagesima and Easter, beginning with a reading of the [[Book of Genesis]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Willis |first=Geoffrey G. |date=1958-04-01 |title=The historical background of the English lectionary of 1955 |journal=The Journal of Ecclesiastical History |language=en |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=73–86 |doi=10.1017/S0022046900063880 |s2cid=162572706 |issn=0022-0469}}</ref> The last three days of pre-Lent are known as [[Carnival]], [[Shrovetide]], or [[Fastelavn]], a festival ending with [[Shrove Tuesday]] or [[Mardi Gras]].<ref>{{cite OED|Shrovetide (n.)|2819425396|quote=The period comprising Quinquagesima Sunday and the two following days, 'Shrove' Monday and Tuesday.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Simpson |first1=Jacqueline |title=A dictionary of English folklore |last2=Roud |first2=Stephen |date=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-210019-1 |location=Oxford |chapter=Shrovetide |doi=10.1093/acref/9780198607663.001.0001}}</ref>

The [[Christian liturgy|liturgy]] of the period is characterized by violet [[vestments]] (except on feasts) and a more penitential mood.<ref name="Mahrt" /> From Septuagesima, [[Alleluia]] is not traditionally sung in worship.<ref name="Mahrt">{{Cite journal |last=Mahrt |first=William |date=2017 |title=Gregorian chant in the season of Lent |journal=Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=93–114 |doi=10.1353/atp.2017.0012 |s2cid=194585704 |issn=1543-9933}}</ref> A sermon of [[Hildebert]] explains the logic of this practice:

<blockquote>Moreover this day, which is, as it were, the gate of the fast, and takes away from us the song of joy, that is, Alleluia, shows our state of penitence and sorrow, teaching us that we ought to cease from immoderate joy, and remain in tears of repentance. We therefore repeat the hymn again and again, and address Alleluia itself, desirous of retaining it as a guest, and saying to it, Abide with us, for the day is far spent; and we then give it our last farewell, saying, The good angel of the Lord accompany you, that you may return again to us; that we may know that we shall not have perfect joy, until, renewed by the Body and Blood of our Redeemer, we receive that song with gladness.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alldrit |first=Nicolas |date=2000-03-01 |title=The Song of an Easter people |journal=Theology |language=en |volume=103 |issue=812 |pages=97–107 |doi=10.1177/0040571X0010300204 |s2cid=170166080 |issn=0040-571X}}</ref></blockquote>

A custom developed during the Middle Ages of children burying an Alleluia on Septuagesima Eve.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Harvey |first=Nigel |date=1945-06-01 |title=Some further notes on Suffolk folklore |journal=Folklore |language=en |volume=56 |issue=2 |pages=269–270 |doi=10.1080/0015587X.1945.9717772 |issn=0015-587X}}</ref> It is possible for [[Candlemas]] (2 February) to fall after Septuagesima Sunday, creating occasional musical challenges.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Procter |first=Michael |date=2008 |title=Byrd's music for Candlemas |journal=Sacred Music |volume=135 |issue=1 |pages=24–29 |issn=0036-2255|id={{ProQuest|232421717}} }}</ref>

The pre-Lenten period includes three Sundays, whose names refer to the approximate periods of seventy, sixty, and fifty days before Easter. The Sundays are also known by the opening word of the [[introit]] for the day:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hiley |first=David |title=The Oxford dictionary of the Middle Ages |date=2010 |publisher=Oxford university press |isbn=978-0-19-866262-4 |editor-last=Bjork |editor-first=Robert E. |location=Oxford |chapter=Septuagesima |doi=10.1093/acref/9780198662624.001.0001}}</ref>

* [[Septuagesima]] or {{lang|la|Circumdederunt}} (from {{lang|la|Circumdederunt me gemitus mortis}}, {{Bibleverse|Psalm|18:5}}), centred on the [[Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard]] ({{Bibleverse|Matthew|20:1–16}}),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lovell |first=H.F. |date=1947-01-01 |title=Septuagesima: The call to endurance |journal=The Expository Times |language=en |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=103–104 |doi=10.1177/001452464705800413 |s2cid=221079137 |issn=0014-5246}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Urkevich |first=Lisa |date=2012 |title=The wings of the Bourbon: The early provenance of the chansonnier London, British Library, MS. Royal 20 A. XVI |journal=Journal of the Alamire Foundation |language=en |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=91–113 |doi=10.1484/J.JAF.1.102609 |issn=2032-5371}}</ref> already used for this Sunday in the time of Gregory the Great<ref name="Crampton"/>
* [[Sexagesima]] or {{lang|la|Exsurge}} (from {{lang|la|Exsurge quare obdormis Domine}}, {{Bibleverse|Psalm|44:24}}), featuring the [[Parable of the Sower]] ({{Bibleverse|Luke|8:4–15}})<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Collins |first=H. B. |date=1923 |title=Byrd's Latin Church music: For practical use in the Roman liturgy |jstor=726958 |journal=Music & Letters |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=254–260 |doi=10.1093/ml/IV.3.254 |issn=0027-4224}}</ref>
* [[Quinquagesima]] or {{lang|la|Estomihi}} (from {{lang|la|Esto mihi in Deum protectorem}}, {{Bibleverse|Psalm|31:3}}), with the story of Jesus [[healing the blind near Jericho]] ({{Bibleverse|Luke|18:31–43}})<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Leaver |first=Robin A. |date=1975 |title=Bach's understanding and use of the Epistles and Gospels of the Church year |jstor=41639962 |journal=Bach |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=4–13 |issn=0005-3600}}</ref>

While [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] and [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] liturgies continue to mark a pre-Lenten period, the [[Roman Rite]] after 1970 eliminated Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima.<ref name="Pristas">{{Cite journal |last=Pristas |first=Lauren |date=2010-07-01 |title=Parachuted into Lent: The suppression of Septuagesima |journal=Usus Antiquior |language=en |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=95–109 |doi=10.1179/175789410X12729674260985 |issn=1757-8949}}</ref> The [[preconciliar rites after the Second Vatican Council]] also continue to mark these seventeen days. The [[Revised Common Lectionary]] does not associate particular readings with the Sundays before Lent, but some users of this lectionary, such as the [[Church of England]], have retrofitted a pre-Lenten provision.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Common worship: services and prayers for the Church of England |date=2000 |publisher=Church House |isbn=978-0-7151-2000-2 |editor-last=Church of England |location=London |language=en}}</ref>

==Eastern Churches==
{{main|Paschal cycle|Great Lent}}
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Byzantine Rite|Byzantine]] [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Catholic]] churches, the pre-Lenten period lasts three weeks.<ref name="Taft"/> It begins on the Sunday of the [[Pharisee and the Publican|Publican and the Pharisee]] and continues through the [[Sunday of Forgiveness]], the day before the beginning of [[Great Lent]].<ref name="Pfatteicher">{{Cite book |last=Pfatteicher |first=Philip H. |title=Journey into the heart of God: Living the liturgical year |date=2013-09-26 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-936782-5 |publication-place=New York |language=en |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199997121.001.0001}}</ref> Since the liturgical day begins at sunset, and Great Lent begins on a Monday, the point at which Great Lent begins is at [[Vespers]] on the night of the Sunday of Forgiveness, with a ceremony of mutual forgiveness. In some [[monastery|monasteries]], this ceremony is performed at [[Compline]] instead of Vespers. 

Thus begins the first day of the Great Fast, which is known as [[Clean Monday]]. The weeks of pre-Lent and Great Lent are anticipatory and preparatory by nature. They begin on Monday and end on Sunday, each week being named for the theme of the upcoming Sunday. The hymns used during the pre-Lenten and Lenten seasons are taken from a book called the [[Triodion]].

The weeks of the pre-Lenten Season break are:

*'''[[Zacchaeus]] Sunday''' (Slavic tradition) is sometimes regarded as a pre-Lenten Sunday because of its place in the Slavic lectionary.  In that tradition, it is the eleventh Sunday before [[Easter|Pascha]] (Easter).  There are no hymns proper to this Sunday. Its only distinguishing feature is the reading of Luke 19:1-10, the Gospel concerning Zacchaeus. This [[lectionary]] reading is sometimes also appointed on the same Sunday in the Byzantine ("Greek") lectionary, as well.  The week following this Sunday is a normal, non-Lenten time, since it falls outside the Triodion.
*'''The [[Pharisee and the Publican|Publican and the Pharisee]]''': Tenth Sunday before Pascha (70 days).  The week following this Sunday is a fast-free week, lest the faithful be tempted, like the [[Pharisee]] to boast about fasting.
*'''The [[Prodigal Son]]''': Ninth Sunday before Pascha (63 days).  The week following this Sunday is the last during which the laity may eat meat or meat products. The fasting rules for this week are the same as those for non-Lenten periods.
*'''The [[Last Judgment]]''' or '''Meat-Fare Sunday''' (the last day meat may be eaten): Eighth Sunday before Pascha (56 days).  The week following this Sunday is called [[Cheese-Fare Week]] and is a fast-free week, with the exception that meat and meat products are forbidden.
*'''Sunday of Forgiveness''' or '''Cheese-Fare Sunday''': Seventh Sunday before Pascha (49 days).  This Sunday is the last day dairy products may be consumed. Throughout Great Lent, fish, wine, and olive oil will be allowed only on certain days.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Easter}}
{{Liturgical year of the Catholic Church}}{{Slavic holidays|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Lent]]
[[Category:Liturgical seasons]]