Preparing
with Joy for the Paschal Feast
The most recent former Book of Common Prayer retained the
traditional practice of keeping the three Sundays that precede Lent as a time
of preparation and easing into the Lenten fast.
The Western Churches (Catholic) will keep the feast of the Lord’s
Resurrection on Sunday 1 April. Thus,
for us, the Third Sunday before Lent shall be Sunday 28 January. Starting with that Sunday, recalling the
words of the Lenten Proper Preface that remind us that Lent is a time of
preparing for the Paschal Feast of the Resurrection, we will journey through a
series of Old Testament readings traditionally read at the Great Vigil of
Easter. This list will include the
readings prescribed for the Easter Vigil in our current Book of Common Prayer
as well as a few other Old Testament readings traditionally read at the Easter
Vigil that are not included in our Prayer Book.
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It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we
should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy
Father, almighty, everlasting God, who dost bid thy faithful people cleanse
their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in
prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by thy Word and Sacraments, they may
come to the fullness of grace which thou hast prepared for those who love thee. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with
all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising
thee, and saying,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts: Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Rev’d Timothy
Alleman
Rector
The Church of the
Holy Cross
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