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Pre-Lent Has Begun We’ve entered the season of Pre-Lent, for those of you who don’t follow Vatican II. In other words, Lent begins in sixteen days and now is the time to begin preparing for that. Preparing to prepare for Easter, if you want to think of it that way. So how do you prepare for Lent? First, remember that repentance, prayer, fasting and charity are not optional for Christians. We do not earn favor with God for doing these things, but our Lord says that these are what his disciples do. Even though we should be doing these things all the time, in Lent we ramp them up or do these things more intentionally. Second, get ready now. Pray and consider how you are going to incorporate more fasting and prayer into your day. Take stock of your time and activities and figure out what you can change. In my case, I’ve been wasting a little too much time on the computer in the evenings and not doing things I want/should be doing. Third, prepare for the Fast, which in the Western Tradition is basically 1.5 meals per day (1/4 breakfast, 1/4 lunch, 1 full supper, no meat on Wednesdays and Fridays). Giving up certain luxuries and bad habits is also good. But whatever you plan, talk to your pastor first. He can provide some guidance. Don’t do too much; don’t try it all this year, but do a little more than last year. If you plan on giving up things, begin weaning yourself now. It will be easier when Ash Wednesday arrives. You get the idea. Pre-Lent is a gift for the church. Use it. Possibly Related posts:
 Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Tags: faith, fasting, Lent, prayer, repentance | Category: Theology |
6 comments6 comments to Pre-Lent Has Begun |
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Hi Christopher. Maybe I haven’t been paying attention but I’ve not heard of “Pre-Lent” as an official designation. Could you help me understand where this comes from, especially with any Biblical or confessional guidance?
In the One-Year Lectionary, the three Sundays before Ash Wednesdays are Septuagesima, Sexigesima, and Quinquagesima, otherwise known as “Pre-Lent.” We have been using the One Year for a couple of years here now in the hopes of increasing Biblical literacy, among other reasons.
Okay but whence comes the designation “Pre-Lent”? Is it something only connected to the usage of the One-Year Lectionary?
I believe it is only connected with the One-Year lectionary. The modernist reformers of Vatican II thought such “duplication” was unneeded–an unnecessary historical accretion. The same spirit was involved in changing the repentant flavor of Advent (purple) to something else (blue).
As far as calling it “Pre-lent” I’m not sure where that came about. I’ve only heard it called that more recently as more churches are abandoning the Three Year and returning to the One Year. I suppose it could be just a functional designation to describe what these Sundays are for.
Incidentally, the Eastern Rite does something similar with the Meat Fare and Cheese Fare Sundays prior to Lent–a weaning of the foods they abstain from in Lent in their fasting rite.
Anyone else have any input?
Thanks buddy! I appreciate the information.
BTW–I had to laugh. I was looking through the LSB yesterday and saw that the “Church Year” page calls this three Sundays “Pre-Lent.” So it’s actually in the hymnal. Duh.