Episode 2947: The Lost Season of Lent Preparation with Nancy

The Lost Season of Preparation: Why the Modern Church Forgot
Pre-Lent
Nancy: Welcome back to Catholic Reboot, where we explore the
richness of traditional Catholic teaching in contrast to the modern errors that have crept into the Church. I’m Nancy, your host, and joining me today, as always, is my co-host, Walt.
Walt: Glad to be here, Nancy. And I have to say, today’s topic is one that many Catholics today have never even heard about: the pre-Lenten season.
Nancy: That’s right, Walt. The weeks leading up to Lent Septuagesima (sep-tyoo-uh-juh-si-muh), Sexagesima (sex-uh-juh-si-muh), and Quinquagesima (kwing-kwuh-jes-uh-muh) were once an essential part of the Church’s liturgical year, preparing the faithful for the penitential season of Lent. But after Vatican II, this entire period was discarded. And since yesterday was Septuagesima Sunday, this is a great time to talk about time in the liturgical year.
Walt: And as we’ll discuss today, removing it had real consequences. The Church, for centuries, understood the importance of gradually preparing souls for the rigors of Lent. But in the spirit of so-called “modernization,” the post-conciliar Church deemed it unnecessary. Let’s dive in and reclaim what was lost.

Opening Prayer
Nancy: Before we begin, let us open with a prayer.
Heavenly Father, as we enter this season of preparation, open our hearts to Your grace. Help us to embrace the wisdom of Your Church and the traditions passed down through the ages. Grant us strength to prepare ourselves spiritually, that we may grow in holiness and be ready to enter into the sacred season of Lent with humility and devotion. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Forgotten Weeks of Preparation
Nancy: Let’s start by explaining what Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima actually are. These three Sundays before Ash Wednesday serve as a transition from the joy of Christmas and Epiphany to the penitential season of Lent.
The word “Septuagesima” means “seventieth,” roughly seventy days before Easter. Sexagesima is sixtieth, and Quinquagesima is fiftieth. Though the numbers aren’t exact, they symbolically prepare us for the coming of Lent, reminding us of the biblical significance of the number 40 like Christ’s fast in the desert.
In doing my research, I also read that, “Lent mirrors the 40-year exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land, Septuagesima mirrors the 70 years of the Babylonian captivity. Both lead from captivity to freedom and also point to salvation won for us by Christ.”

And traditionally, the Church would mark this period with a shift in the liturgy. The Gloria and Alleluia would be dropped, and violet vestments would be worn. It was a sign to the faithful: begin softening your heart, start cutting back on indulgences, and prepare spiritually for Lent.

Walt: It was a gradual preparation, not a sudden, jarring shift into
penance. Our forefathers in the faith understood human nature well without a period of transition, many would enter Lent unprepared, and the season would be less fruitful.

Why Did Vatican II Remove Pre-Lent?
Nancy: Now we get to the big question: why did the Church remove pre-Lent after Vatican II? What was the reasoning behind it?

Walt: The official reasoning was that it was considered “too
complicated” for modern Catholics and that the reformers wanted to emphasize Lent itself rather than a preparatory season. But we can see a deeper issue at play here.

Nancy: Right! The modern Church has slowly been erasing penitential practices, deemphasizing sacrifice and sin. It’s no coincidence that as pre-Lent was removed, other traditions like meatless Fridays outside of Lent and Ember Days also began to disappear. It’s a shift toward comfort and convenience rather than discipline and preparation. And what happens when you don’t prepare for something? You approach it half-heartedly. The idea that things will just come together naturally is just an excuse for not planning. The removal of pre-Lent has led to weaker
Lenten observances.

Why This Matters for Catholics
Nancy: So, for those of us who want to hold to the traditions of the
Church, what should we do? How can we reclaim this lost season? One way is to follow the pre-Vatican II liturgical calendar, either by attending a Traditional Latin Mass parish or observing pre-Lent at home. Start by adopting small penitential practices during Septuagesima. And that could be something as simple as reducing unnecessary entertainment, cutting back on certain foods, or beginning to pray more intentionally.
Walt: We can also make an effort to educate others. So many Catholics today have no idea that this season even existed. Imagine how much richer their Lenten experience could be if they knew about it.
Final Thoughts
Nancy: The Church, in her wisdom, gave us these weeks to prepare ourselves spiritually. Their removal was a serious loss, but as traditional Catholics, we have the ability to reclaim them in our own lives. So, I will do an episode on each of these preparation weeks and do a much deeper dive into their purpose and significance to us Catholics, so stay tuned and get educated. Let’s use this time to think about our Lenten practices so that we don’t find ourselves scrambling to come up with something to give up or falsely practice this Lent. In yesterday’s homily, the priest spoke about “preparing” for Lent the same way a runner would prepare for a marathon. Your mind and spirit need to be in the right place.
Walt: Let’s not fall into the mindset of convenience and forgetfulness. Let’s restore these ancient traditions and prepare for Lent as our ancestors did with intention and devotion.
Nancy: Amen to that. Let’s close with a prayer.

Heavenly Father, as we prepare to enter the holy season of Lent, grant us the grace to reflect, repent, and ready our hearts for the sacrifice of Your Son. May we honor the traditions of Your Church and remain steadfast in the faith passed down to us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Walt: Amen.
Nancy: Thank you all for joining us today. If you found this episode helpful, please share it and help others rediscover the beauty of our lost traditions. Until next time, stay strong in the faith. God bless.