Is Septuagesima Sunday Still Relevant Today?

In today’s fast-paced world, many of us are accustomed to the liturgical calendar as it is practiced today—mostly focusing on the major seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. But for centuries, the Church followed a slightly different approach, one that included an important time of preparation before the start of Lent: Septuagesima Sunday. But with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and the adjustments to the liturgical calendar, is Septuagesima Sunday still relevant for modern Catholics?

What is Septuagesima Sunday?

Septuagesima Sunday marks the beginning of a three-week period that precedes the season of Lent. It is part of what is known as Pre-Lent, a time for spiritual preparation that helps the faithful ease into the penitential season of Lent. The name Septuagesima comes from the Latin word for “seventy,” referring to the approximately seventy days before Easter, or 10 weeks before the first Sunday of Lent.

The liturgy for Septuagesima Sunday includes readings that focus on the themes of human frailty, sin, and the need for redemption. Traditionally, the Church would also observe the fast days of Septuagesima as a way to spiritually prepare for the stricter fasting and penance of Lent.

However, with the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), the Church moved away from the Pre-Lent observance, including Septuagesima Sunday. The focus shifted to a more straightforward observance of the season of Lent itself, beginning with Ash Wednesday. As a result, Septuagesima Sunday has largely disappeared from modern Catholic liturgies, particularly in the Roman Rite.

The Purpose of Septuagesima

Historically, Septuagesima was a time for the faithful to begin the transition into the more intense penance of Lent. It served as a way to help people gradually prepare for the spiritual journey ahead, rather than diving directly into the solemnity of Ash Wednesday. The Sundays of Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima (each marking roughly 70, 60, and 50 days before Easter, respectively) gave the faithful a chance to reflect on their lives and sins, without the extreme fasting and penance that would follow in Lent.

This gentle introduction to Lent allowed for deeper contemplation and reflection, helping people spiritually prepare for the more demanding practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It also emphasized the idea of penance as a journey—a gradual, reflective process, rather than a sudden leap into deprivation.

Is It Still Relevant?

In today’s world, where many Catholics struggle to balance their busy lives with their spiritual practices, the relevance of Septuagesima Sunday may seem distant. The liturgical changes in the 1960s streamlined the liturgical calendar, aiming to make it more accessible and relatable to contemporary Catholics. Without the observance of Septuagesima Sunday, Lent now comes into sharper focus with Ash Wednesday as its clear starting point.

However, just because Septuagesima Sunday is not widely observed doesn’t mean that its themes of gradual preparation and penitence are outdated or irrelevant. In fact, the need for spiritual preparation before diving into intense penance is as necessary today as ever. The rush of modern life can often distract us from the deeper, more reflective aspects of our faith. The concept of easing into a season of penance—taking time for reflection before taking on the disciplines of Lent—is a valuable idea, one that can still have much to offer us.

Rediscovering Septuagesima

While the official liturgical calendar may no longer recognize Septuagesima Sunday, there’s no reason why the idea behind it cannot still be embraced by Catholics today. In fact, it can serve as a reminder that we can all benefit from a more gradual approach to spiritual preparation. Instead of jumping straight into the demands of Lent, taking a few weeks to reflect on the upcoming season and gradually begin to make small sacrifices or changes in our routines can help us deepen our Lenten observances.

As individuals or communities, we can take inspiration from the themes of Septuagesima: humility, reflection on human frailty, and a reminder of the journey that lies ahead. While we may not observe Septuagesima Sunday in the traditional liturgical sense, it can still serve as a guide for preparing ourselves spiritually for the more intense journey of Lent.

Epilogue

So, is Septuagesima Sunday still relevant today? While it is no longer part of the modern liturgical calendar, the themes it carries—gradual preparation, penance, and reflection—are as meaningful as ever. In a world that often rushes from one thing to the next, taking time to ease into Lent, and reflecting on the journey ahead, can be a spiritually enriching practice. As Catholics, we are always invited to deepen our understanding of the faith, and rediscovering the spirit of Septuagesima may be one way to enrich our Lenten observance in a more intentional and reflective manner.