The Sunday Formerly Known as Septuagesima

Yesterday was once called SEPTUAGESIMA Sunday. Septuagesima indicates the 70th day before Easter (the 9th Sunday). It's not really mathematical if you try to figure it out, but close enough. Back in the day before Vatican Council 2, the priest would wear a purple chasuble to remind us to prepare for the Lenten season. It also was the last time until Holy Saturday that the Alleluia was sung (or heard at all).  In some places, a burial took place...

One of the most popular was to write the word on a large piece of parchment, and then after Vespers bury it in the churchyard, so that it could be dug up again on Easter Sunday. Our friends from the Fraterity of St Joseph the Guardian in La Londe-les-Maures, France, have posted some pictures of their ritual burial of the Alleluia on their Facebook page, which they very kindly agreed to share with us.

Note the BLACK chasuble!

 Wikipedia reports:


In Divine Worship: The Missal, promulgated by the CDF/CDW commission Anglicanae Traditiones for use in the Ordinariates established under Anglicanorum coetibus beginning in Advent 2015, the season of Pre-Lent is restored. This includes the use of violet, the omission of the Gloria and Alleluias, and collects and other propers appropriate to the season. The readings, however, remain those of the corresponding numbered Sundays of the year.