On Sunday we begin the season called Pre-Lent. It is a period of approximately three weeks, from the last Sunday after Epiphany to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.The season draws us slowly away from the festivities of both the Christmas and Epiphany seasons and into a more reflective and solemn approach to the faith, culminating with the beginning of Lent, which takes place this year on February 17.
The liturgical colour is purple. Flowers still adorn the altar, and the organ is played as usual in the liturgy, although the Gloria in excelsis is omitted in the mass, and a Tract (which will be printed in the bulletin) takes the place of the Alleluia and its verse after the gradual.
The Sunday names derive from the Latin, and hint at the approximate number of days left before Easter - Septuagesima (70th), Sexagesima (60th) and Quinquagesima (50th).
