8.228. Why did the traditional liturgical calendar include Septuagesima, and why is it missing today?
The traditional Catholic liturgical calendar includes a unique and ancient season known as Septuagesima, which begins roughly 70 days before Easter. It serves as a pre-Lenten preparation—a time of transition between the joys of Christmas and the penance of Lent. This season, together with Sexagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays, forms a liturgical ramp that helps souls enter into the spirit of Lent gradually and fruitfully.
In the Novus Ordo calendar, promulgated in 1969 after Vatican II, this entire season was abolished. Most Catholics today have never even heard of Septuagesima. The question is: why was it removed, and what was lost in the process?
1. What Is Septuagesima?
Septuagesima is the name given to the third Sunday before Ash Wednesday, followed by Sexagesima (60 days before Easter) and Quinquagesima (50 days before Easter). These Sundays mark the beginning of the pre-Lenten season in the traditional calendar, sometimes called the "Lenten forecourt."
The word “Septuagesima” (Latin for “seventieth”) is symbolic, not mathematical, representing the approximate number of days until Easter. The purpose of the season is spiritual preparation—like a liturgical “warm-up” for Lent:
The Gloria and Alleluia are omitted, signaling a more somber tone.
The vestments turn violet, but fasting has not yet begun.
The faithful begin to focus on sin, penance, and the need for grace.
The Mass readings highlight man’s exile from Eden, the need for conversion, and the labors of the Christian life.
2. Why Did the Church Include This Season?
The Church included Septuagesima because she understands human nature. Sudden changes are jarring to the soul; gradual preparation softens the transition and opens the heart to deeper conversion.
Septuagesima has existed in the Roman Rite since at least the 6th century, and possibly earlier. It was practiced in monastic communities, who began observing stricter penance before Lent. Over time, this custom spread throughout the Church and became a universal part of the liturgical year.
The season:
Teaches the fall of man (Adam and Eve), setting the stage for Lent and Easter.
Connects us with the Old Testament themes of exile, toil, and need for redemption.
Reminds us that salvation is a journey, not a sudden switch.
Trains the faithful in anticipatory penance and holy detachment from worldly joy.
3. Why Was Septuagesima Removed in the Novus Ordo?
In 1969, the Consilium (the commission appointed to reform the liturgy after Vatican II) eliminated Septuagesima entirely from the new liturgical calendar. The rationale was largely pastoral and practical, not theological.
Their reasons included:
A desire to simplify the calendar
A belief that the season was confusing or redundant
An effort to align the calendar with Eastern liturgical models
The emphasis on Lent as the sole time of penance
The result was that Ordinary Time now runs up to Ash Wednesday, with no pre-Lenten warning or liturgical descent into the discipline of Lent. The Church went from gradual preparation to abrupt transition—a change felt not only liturgically but spiritually.
4. What Was Lost with Its Removal?
Traditional Catholics view the removal of Septuagesima as a serious spiritual loss. Here’s why:
It eliminated a key preparatory period that trains the soul to enter Lent intentionally.
It cut out three Sundays of doctrinally rich readings and prayers that help the faithful reflect on Original Sin, labor, and grace.
It weakened the sense of continuity with centuries of Catholic practice, especially among religious communities.
It furthered the overall de-penitential tone of the new liturgy, which tends to emphasize joy and community over repentance and spiritual combat.
For the traditional Catholic, this loss was not just symbolic—it was practical and doctrinal.
5. Septuagesima: A Lost Treasure for Today
In an age that fears sacrifice and forgets sin, Septuagesima is more relevant than ever. It reminds Catholics:
That life is a pilgrimage through exile, not a party
That conversion takes preparation, not just good intentions
That the Church’s ancient wisdom is holier than modern pastoralism
Traditional Catholics retain Septuagesima because it is a powerful tool for sanctification, handed down by generations of saints, monks, and popes. To discard it in the name of simplification is to reject a gift God gave His Church through sacred tradition.
| Category | Traditional Catholic Calendar | Novus Ordo Calendar | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liturgical Season | Includes Septuagesima (3 Sundays before Lent) | No Septuagesima; Ordinary Time continues until Lent | Traditional structure allows gradual transition into Lent |
| Liturgical Color | Violet from Septuagesima onward | Green until Ash Wednesday | Color shift signifies spiritual preparation |
| Use of "Alleluia" | Suppressed starting Septuagesima | Suppressed only on Ash Wednesday | Gradual withdrawal deepens liturgical meaning |
| Readings and Themes | Fall of man, exile, spiritual labor | No corresponding thematic preparation | Loss of key catechetical and penitential focus |
| Spiritual Purpose | Prepare soul gradually for Lent | Immediate shift from Ordinary Time to Lent | Traditional approach honors human psychology and grace |
Summary:
Septuagesima is a powerful, ancient season of the Church that was designed to prepare Catholics for the holy season of Lent. Appearing three Sundays before Ash Wednesday, it trains the soul by signaling the beginning of the spiritual ascent toward Easter. The use of violet vestments, the suppression of the Gloria and Alleluia, and the somber Scripture readings all create a sacred atmosphere of anticipation and penance.
Its removal from the modern liturgical calendar after Vatican II is seen by traditional Catholics as a loss of doctrinal depth and spiritual wisdom. Rather than being an unnecessary complication, Septuagesima reflects the Church’s pastoral understanding of human weakness and the need to ease the soul into greater sacrifice. It provides a bridge between the festivity of Christmastide and the rigors of Lent—both liturgically and psychologically.
By eliminating this season, the Novus Ordo calendar introduced a sudden and jarring shift that leaves the faithful less prepared for Lent, less catechized in the theology of sin and penance, and less immersed in the organic rhythm of the Church’s tradition.
Traditional Catholics continue to observe Septuagesima because it honors centuries of liturgical development and provides real spiritual benefit. In a world increasingly allergic to sacrifice and repentance, the quiet wisdom of Septuagesima is not a relic—it’s a remedy.