For almost three years, our family has attended the Traditional Latin Mass on Sundays. One of the things I have loved most about the old Mass has been the discovery of a gorgeous little season of the year known as "Septuagesima." Christmas season in the old calendar ends on the Feast of Candlemas--the celebration of the Presentation of Our Lord on February 2nd. Instead of a period of Ordinary Time, we go directly from the Season after the Epiphany into "Septuagesima," three Sundays devoted to preparation for Lent.
There is a great deal of beauty to be found in Ordinary Time, and it doesn't get anymore beautiful than this, yet I have grown to love and appreciate Septuagesima, a season that seems specially designed for people like myself--people who need a few reminders, lest they wake up one morning and say, "Is it really Ash Wednesday already?" The three Sundays of Septuagesima knock at the door of the heart, crying out: "Lent is coming!" (Septuagesima); "Get ready!" (Sexagesima); "It is almost here!" (Quinquagesima).
We have been doing a good deal to get ready these past few weeks. After listening to a homily suggesting that families put an image of the Blessed Mother in the center of our homes during Lent, we moved our statue of Our Lady of Fatima from a side table to the mantel in the Family Room. While we were at it, we replaced a statue of the Flight into Egypt--the last vestige of the Christmas season--with a standing crucifix, and the painting of the Nativity in our dining room with an image of the Last Supper.
I have a few Lenten resolutions for 2015. The first is to get to Mass with the children every morning. The main obstacle to this has always been the logistics of getting so many people out the door early and in suitable attire. Three weeks of Septuagesima have given me time to take inventory of their clothing--how many button down shirts do the boys have? How many winter dresses for the girls? Who needs new shoes? Does the baby have tights? Let's pray that it helps.
As usual, we are all giving up drinks other than water and sweets, including excess sugar. We are abstaining from meat on Wednesdays as well as Fridays and giving up all wheat. In years past, I have started with good intentions, but too often missed the mark--like the year we were going to give up both wheat and dairy, but went back to eating Fettucini Alfredo within a week. This year, rather than starting out Lent with a list of things we cannot have, I have had the time to create a list of things we will have--Lenten Menus for the whole forty days. As you will see, these menus are very plain--there will be lots of soup, many beans and vegetables, and almost nothing sweet. It is less daunting for me to think about all the things we plan to have instead of worrying about what we cannot. (And, let me tell you, there is great comfort in being able to tell anyone who asks what you will be having for breakfast on March 21st.)
If anyone is wondering, there is a coffee exception to the "no drinks other than water" sacrifice. Alas, I would not have the strength to give up that particular crutch just yet. Still, I am doing much better than usual thanks to the Season of Septuagesima and the gift of time to plan.