Septuagesima: “Burying the Alleluia”

I have in the past written, just the other day as a matter of fact, about a French custom of “burying the Alleluia” on Septuagesima.  On this pre-Lent Sunday, scrapped with the incept of the Novus Ordo, we wear the purple of penitence on Sundays and we already begin thinking about our Lenten discipline which will begin pretty soon.

Today at NLM I saw a great post with photos of the burying of the Alleluia at a parish of the Fraternity of St. Joseph the Guardian.  Here are a couple.  See the rest over there.

A great custom… especially if you live where the ground hasn’t yet been frozen as hard as concrete.

UPDATE:

From the magnificent Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles in Missouri come images of their own farewell to the Alleluia.

16_01_24_Alleluia_01 16_01_24_Alleluia_02 16_01_24_Alleluia_03 16_01_24_Alleluia_04

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

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6 Comments

  1. bookworm says:

    I have a somewhat humorous story regarding this practice. Years ago, a Catholic school in my area decided to “bury the Alleluia” at its Ash Wednesday Mass. The Alleluia banner was placed in a shoebox-sized container and not actually buried, but placed in a small rock garden near one of the entrances. Several weeks later, the school received a bomb threat, school was called off for the day and when the bomb squad arrived they spotted a “suspicious package” which they hauled off and exploded…. you guessed it, the “suspicious package” was the buried Alleluia.

  2. Jack007 says:

    The last pic “Here Lies Al” speaks volumes.
    In one single photo is captured the essence of joy that permeates holy institutions like these sisters. So much for the stereotype and template created by the Left that traditional religious must all be humorless, stodgy and probably even hateful types.
    I’ve seen these sisters interact, and I can assure you there is much laughter and lightheartedness.
    Quite simply, they are HAPPY. We lay people could do well to imitate their example as they bear witness to the Gospel.

  3. JMJLuke says:

    Hmmm… I’m thinking maybe this custom needs to be adapted to fit the needs of the modern world somewhat. Perhaps we could start a movement for parishes with less than ideal music to have a “bury the Marty Haugen hymns” celebration. Only this custom would not be an annual tradition, but one that happens once and for good.
    Who knows? It might become a thing. ;)

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  5. Maeana says:

    So lovely to see my sweet sister. Thank you for sharing these.

  6. Luke W says:

    As I continue to attend the EF mass I feel a deepening sense of joy unfolding as I learn about so many great traditions contained in the old calendar, and also in the usus antiquior.

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