Septuagesima Sunday - Feb. 20, 2011 A.D.

[Shin]

February, the month dedicated to the Passion of Christ
J.M.J.
 
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year
 
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY
 
Why is this Sunday called "Septuagesima"?
 
Because in accordance with the words of the First Council of Orleans,
some pious Christian congregations in the earliest ages of the Church,
especially the clergy, began to fast seventy days before Easter, on
this Sunday, which was therefore called Septuagesima" - the
seventieth day. The same is the case with the Sundays following,
which are called Sexagesima, Quinquagesima , Quadragesima, because
some Christians commenced to fast sixty days, others fifty, others
forty days before Easter, until finally, to make it properly uniform,
Popes Gregory and Gelasius arranged that all Christians should fast
forty days before Easter, commencing with Ash-Wednesday.
 
Why, from this day until Easter, does the Church omit in her service
all joyful canticles, alleluia's, and the Gloria in excelsis etc?
 
Gradually to prepare the minds of the faithful for the serious time
of penance and sorrow; to remind the sinner of the grievousness of
his errors, and to exhort him to penance. So the priest appears at
the altar in violet, the color of penance, and the front of the altar
is covered with a violet curtain. To arouse our sorrow for our sins,
and show the need of repentance, the Church in the name of all
mankind at the Introit cries with David: The groans of death
surrounded me, the sorrows of hell encompassed me: and in my
affliction I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice from his
holy temple. (Ps. XVII, 5-7.) I will love thee, O Lord, my strength;
the Lord is my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer. (Fs. XVII.
2-3.) Glory be to the Father, etc.
 

[Shin]

There are also some notable saints and blesseds on the calendar today.

Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto's day is today, Jacinta died today on the 20th.

From Bl. Jacinta's last words..

'What is it all for? If they only knew what eternity is.'

Bl. Jacinta Marto of Fatima, age 9, on seeing immodest and fashionably dressed women

'The sins that lead more souls to hell are the sins of the flesh.'

'The sins of the world are very great.'

'Fashions that will greatly offend Our Lord will appear. People who follow God should not follow fashions. The Church has no fashions. Our Lord was always the same.'

'Wars are nothing but punishments for the sins of the world.'

'My godmother, pray much for sinners! Pray much for priests! Pray much for religious! Priests should only occupy themselves with the affairs of the Church. Priests should be pure, very pure.'

'Those who do not keep the promises they make to Our Lady will never succeed in their affairs.'

'Our Lady does not want people to talk in church.'

'The Mother of God wants more virgin souls who bind themselves to her by the vow of chastity.

'To be pure in body is to keep chastity. To be pure in soul is not to commit sins, not to look at what one should not see, not to steal, never to lie, always to tell the truth however hard that may be.'

Bl. Jacinta Marto of Fatima, age 9, from her last words

[Shin]

It is also St. Serapion of Alexandria's feast, he was tortured and martyred in the persecutions of Decius (Roman Emperor from 249 to 251) for permitting Christian worship in his home.

St. Serapion of Alexandria, ora pro nobis!

[CyrilSebastian]

Septuagesima is the ninth Sunday before Easter and the third Sunday before Lent.

[CyrilSebastian]

Sexagesima Sunday is the name for the second Sunday before Ash Wednesday.