Septuagesimal

[Fish and Bread]

Have any of you ever seen an Anglican parish recognize the liturgical season of Septuagesimal (http://www.fisheaters.com/customsseptuagesima1.html)? Do any of you personally recognize it for the purpose of private devotions and such? Should it be brought back on a larger scale?

Right now, the only organized body I know of that recognizes it on a large scale is the extraordinary use (1962 Tridentine Latin missal) of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church and some smaller separate groups also dedicated to the old mass. But it would make sense to me that some Anglicans might follow it, since it was not eliminated by the Vatican until 1969 or 1970 and Anglicans were (re)separated from Rome long before that and thus may have continued it in some circles as a tradition, even though it is not on the official liturgical calendar of any national Anglican churches I know of. I do remember that the last week or two before Lent often seemed to have lectionary selections that were "Lent-like" in the Episcopal Church and thus might be a small remnant of this tradition..

[Albion]

Have any of you ever seen an Anglican parish recognize the liturgical season of Septuagesimal (http://www.fisheaters.com/customsseptuagesima1.html)? Do any of you personally recognize it for the purpose of private devotions and such? Should it be brought back on a larger scale?

Right now, the only organized body I know of that recognizes it on a large scale is the extraordinary use (1962 Tridentine Latin missal) of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church and some smaller separate groups also dedicated to the old mass. But it would make sense to me that some Anglicans might follow it, since it was not eliminated by the Vatican until 1969 or 1970 and Anglicans were (re)separated from Rome long before that and thus may have continued it in some circles as a tradition, even though it is not on the official liturgical calendar of any national Anglican churches I know of. I do remember that the last week or two before Lent often seemed to have lectionary selections that we "Lent-like" in the Episcopal Church and thus might be a small remnant of this tradition..

I may not be picking up on what you are speaking of, but every Anglican church I know of (and I attend a number of different ones annually) observe the "gesimas" and that season as always. I guess that TEC may have removed them from their calendar, but none of the others--to my knowledge--has.

[Fish and Bread]

I may not be picking up on what you are speaking of, but every Anglican church I know of (and I attend a number of different ones annually) observe the "gesimas" and that season as always. I guess that TEC may have removed them from their calendar, but none of the others--to my knowledge--has.
Septuagesimal is the season of 16 days preceding Lent each year in some churches and parishes. It's liturgical color is purple and it is a period of optional fasting to prepare for the great fast of Lent, with a focus on Israel's Babylon captivity as it's chief symbol or metaphor (similar to how Lent's chief metaphors are Jesus' forty days in the desert and his passion, or Israel's 40 years in the desert escaping from the Egyptians on the way to Israel). I am not sure if that is the same as what you describe or not as I am not fully familar with all the terminology you use in your post.

[Albion]

Septuagesimal is the season of 16 days preceding Lent each year in some churches and parishes. It's liturgical color is purple and it is a period of optional fasting to prepare for the great fast of Lent, with a focus on Israel's Babylon captivity as it's chief symbol or metaphor (similar to how Lent's chief metaphors are Jesus' forty days in the desert and his passion, or Israel's 40 years in the desert escaping from the Egyptians on the way to Israel). I am not sure if that is the same as what you describe or not as I am not fully familar with all the terminology you use in your post.

Oh, sorry for any confusion there, but yes. All that is observed in every Anglican church in America of every jurisdiction with the exception of TEC. But maybe I should ask you, as a way of getting right down to it...

...what churches did you have in mind that you think don't?

[Fish and Bread]

Oh, sorry for any confusion there, but yes. All that is observed in every Anglican church in America of every jurisdiction with the exception of TEC. But maybe I should ask you, as a way of getting right down to it...

...what churches did you have in mind that you think don't?

I actually wasn't sure which churches, if any, did recognize this season apart from traditionalist Roman Catholics, though I suspected some Anglican churches might. So your post is news to me and helps answer my question. Thanks! :)

I would love to see a broad spectrum restoration of this to the Episcopal Church and the Novus Ordo Roman Catholic mass and whatnot (Albeit maybe with a different liturgical color that differentiates it from Lent). Maybe even the Lutherans, though I'm honestly not sure they always have the hang of Lent, so maybe they should focus on that first. ;) The Lutheran comment is mostly a joke, though I did actually attend a Lutheran service during a Wednesday during a Lent in which they sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" complete with the refrain of a thrice-repeated "Glory, Glory Alleluia!". :)

[Albion]

I actually wasn't sure which churches, if any, did recognize this season apart from traditionalist Roman Catholics, though I suspected some Anglican churches might. So your post is news to me and helps answer my question. Thanks! :)

You're quite welcome. Yes, every Continuing Anglican church does, which if you think about it, makes sense. Retain the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, and you could hardly overlook that season since it's built right in. At the same time, I know that a lot of people don't quite understand the background and why those three Sundays are what they are.

I would love to see a broad spectrum restoration of this to the Episcopal Church and the Novus Ordo Roman Catholic mass and whatnot (Albeit maybe with a different liturgical color that differentiates it from Lent). Maybe even the Lutherans, though I'm honestly not sure they always have the hang of Lent, so maybe they should focus on that first. ;) The Lutheran comment is mostly a joke, though I did actually attend a Lutheran service during a Wednesday during a Lent in which they sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" complete with the refrain of a thrice-repeated "Glory, Glory Alleluia!". :)

Hmmm. First, many Lutherans do also observe the season of pre-Lent. Second, what a poor choice of hymn! It is a genuine hymn and an entry in the Lutheran hymnal, but meant for occasions celebrating city and nation. For myself, I'd just as well have none of those anyway but just stick to the traditional liturgical calendar.

[Monica, child of God]

Just an FYI--

Orthodox Christians observe Pre-len (http://www.oca.org/OCchapter.asp?SID=2&ID=65)t too.

M.

[AngCath]

Not a big surprise, but none of the TEC parishes I've been a part of acknowledge Septuagesima.

But, since a lot of my private devotions are from the Anglican Breviary, which follows the old Kalendar, I guess you could say that I have retained the "gesimas" in my home.