For those who celebrate according to the traditional Roman rite today is Septuagesima Sunday of the pre-Lenten season (as you no doubt know). The prayers and readings for this solemn day are present in the ancient Roman sacramentaries and this precise arrangement of the propers and readings are attributed to Pope Saint Gregory the Great. Having just assisted at this Mass, and been greatly edified by these holy prayers, I thought it would be worthwhile to post them here (English only for the sake of brevity).

Cheers.

Introit

The sorrows 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.17. 2, 3). I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength: the Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- The sorrows of death surrounded me . . .

Collect

We beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously to hark to the prayers of Thy people: so that we who are justly afflicted for our sins, may mercifully be freed for the glory of Thy Name. Through Our Lord...

Epistle

Brethren, Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain. And every one that striveth for the mastery refraineth himself from all things; and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one. I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty; I so fight, not as one beating the air: but I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway. For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all in Moses were baptized, in the cloud and in the sea: and did all eat the same spiritual food, and drank the same spiritual drink: (that they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.) But with most of them God was not well pleased.

Gradual

A Helper in due time in tribulation: let them trust in Thee who know Thee: for Thou hast not forsaken them that seek Thee, O Lord. V.: For the poor man shall not be forgotten to the end: the patience of the poor shall not perish for ever: arise, O Lord, let not man prevail.

Tract

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord: Let Thine ears be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant. V.: If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it? V.: For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness, and by reason of Thy law I have waited for Thee, O Lord.

Gospel

At that time Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: The kingdom of God is like to a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers in his vineyard. And having agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle, and he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just. And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour: and did in like manner. But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle? The say to him: Becase no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard. And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the laborers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first. When therefore they were come that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny. And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house, saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us that have borne the burden of the day and the heats. But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take what is thine and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.

Offertory

It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to Thy Name, O Most High.

Secret

Receive our offerings and prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and both cleanse us by these heavenly mysteries, and mercifully hear us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .

Preface

It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

Communion

Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, and save me in Thy mercy: let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon Thee.

Postcommunion

May Thy faithful people, O God, be strengthened by Thy gifts; that in receiving them, they may seek after them the more, and in seeking them, may receive them for ever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee. . .


A short homily for today by Fr. Hathaway FSSP - http://web2.iadfw.net/~carlsch/MaterDei/Ho...mily050123.html

The Roman Breviary for today - http://www.breviary.net/propseason/prelent...prelentsep1.htm

Simply wonderful! Thanks!

Here are a few thoughts for those who may be entirely unfamiliar with this day since it does not exist in the Novus Ordo Mass.

Septuagesima comes from the Latin word for 'seventieth' and although the original meaning of this name is a matter of dispute there is an interpretation in tradition which suggests that Septuagesima mystically represents the Babylonian Captivity of seventy years.

Perhaps the most likely original meaning is that in ancient times some Christians (particularly clergy) would observe an extended fast of seventy days prior to Easter.

The period that has now begun with Septuagesima Sunday is meant to be a period of preparation for the Great Lenten Season. This preparatory period of the historical Roman liturgical calendar is analogous to the pre-Lenten period of the Triodion that Eastern Christians observe (in the East the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Sunday of the Last Judgment and Sunday of Forgiveness can be seen as counterparts to Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima). The Mass prayers during this time reveal a spirit that is one of seeking true sorrow for our sins and a heartfelt repentance. Rather than being a morbid or simply negative period these pre-Lenten Masses inspire us with confidence in the saving works of God and a desire to mortify ourselves and truly repent of our sins before the face of a loving God who desires to bless us eternally. It is a period of transition from Epiphany to Lent in which it is fitting to begin some voluntary fasting and mortification in preparation for the discipline of Lent, and of course to cultivate a spirit of contrition. This short preparatory season (highly preferable to an indulgent Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday in my opinion) is an indication of the seriousness with which the Church views the Great Lent.

These pre-Lenten Masses call us to proclaim the Gospel of repentance but first to live it in our own lives; they call us to reflect upon God’s saving mercy in anticipation of the great mysteries that we will enter into in the Lenten season. Perhaps significant here are the themes of exile, the fallen nature of the world, and the penalty of death. We have all sinned and the wages of sin is death. There are no alleluias during this time and in some places there is an ancient customary ritual of “burying the alleluia.”
Of course this is not the whole story since throughout this time we find the themes of confidence in God’s mercy, God delivering us from our afflictions and so forth. I see this as being anticipatory of both the tears and mortifications of Lent and that contemplation of the Paschal Mystery which will culminate in the Easter Triduum.