Pregaming Lent

You may think this is a sacrilegious post… pounding a few bottles of Merlot before Ash Wednesday.

’tis not the case (pun intended).

No, I’m taking this newly discovered season of Septuagesima seriously and putting it into practice as the Church intended many years ago.

Just as a couch potato shouldn’t expect to finish a marathon without a significant training plan, neither will we truly be spiritually successful in our Lenten resolutions if we don’t prepare.

Septuagesima Sunday marks 70 days before Easter (‘ish – we won’t tackle the calculation of days in this post).

Next week, we celebrate Sexagesima (60 days); the following week is Quinquagesima (50 days). Midway though that week we begin our 40 days of penitance on Ash Wednesday.

This is probably the most cursory overview of this season you’ll come across as I’m just a simple Jane-in-the-pew learning as I go.

I can tell you from experience that giving up wine, chocolate, or (dare I say) social media cold turkey can lead to a feeling of failure and possibly throwing in the towel for good.

God wants to see us succeed.

Holy Mother Church wants us to help.

I have no idea why this practice went out of vogue. But it’s a shame. Our traditions are not just things that were done for the hell of it. But out of a true desire for our growth in holiness. To master our wills. To control our impulses. To make sacrifices which sting a little so that we might have something penitential to offer Jesus throughout these 40 days.

So, my pregame is to give up alcohol starting today. If I slip here or there these next 3 weeks, it’s okay. I’m just prepping for the real race.

Next week I will be adding an extra day of Mass during the week. Then, in Quinquagesima I will replace all video (including YouTube, IG Reels, and TikTok).

I have several books to finish which will replace the screen time. And, it will help me to be more present to those I love.

There are so many beautiful aspects of this season; I hope you will find inspiration to pregame your own Lent in 2024.

Please pray for me as I start my plan and know of my prayers for you!

PS: if you want a really good, detailed and historically correct explanation of this season, I highly recommend this video from Sensus Fidelium, “Septuagesima Sunday: Warming up For Lent and St. Gregory the Great’s Advice for Fasting” (I don’t know who the priest is. If you know, please put his name in the comments below.)

[img source: Piotr Arnoldes on Pixels]