Episode Details

Preface and Chapter 1 of the Introduction to the Season of Septuagesima: the History of Septuagesima, from Volume IV of "The Liturgical Year" by Dom Prosper Guéranger.In the first chapter of the his introduction to the season of Septuagesima, Dom Guéranger explains that this season comprises the three weeks before Lent—Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima—and serves as a gradual, penitential preparation for the great forty days of Quadragesima. Though unknown in the earliest centuries of Christianity, the observance arose partly from Eastern practice and was later adapted by the Roman Church, which wished both to preserve the full symbolism of forty fasting days before Easter and to prepare souls more gently for Lent’s austerities. Over time, the Latin Church fixed the beginning of the Lenten fast on Ash Wednesday, while retaining Septuagesima as a distinct prelude marked by the suspension of the Alleluia and a somber tone in the liturgy. By borrowing this preparatory spirit from the Greeks while maintaining her own discipline, the Roman Church established Septuagesima as a season of recollection, detachment from worldly distractions, and spiritual awakening—an ancient and venerable threshold leading the faithful toward the penitence and renewal of Lent.Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year, a monumental fifteen-volume work, offers a comprehensive exploration of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar, guiding readers through the spiritual and historical richness of the Church’s worship. Written in the 19th century, the series provides daily meditations, historical context, and liturgical texts for the Mass and Divine Office, covering the entire cycle of seasons—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Passiontide, Easter, and the Time after Pentecost—as well as feast days of saints. Guéranger’s work, rooted in a deep contemplative spirit, aims to immerse the faithful in the Church’s prayerful life, emphasizing the unity of faith through the axiom lex orandi, lex credendi ("the law of prayer is the law of belief"), and remains a cherished resource for Catholics seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. Dom Prosper Guéranger (1805–1875) was a French Benedictine monk, liturgical scholar, and founder of the Solesmes Abbey, renowned for his pivotal role in reviving the Benedictine Order in France and restoring the Roman liturgy after the disruptions of the French Revolution. Born in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, he entered the priesthood in 1827 and, inspired by a vision to restore monastic life, reestablished the Benedictine community at Solesmes in 1833, becoming its first abbot. A staunch defender of ultramontanism and traditional Catholic worship, he also championed the revival of Gregorian chant, significantly influencing the liturgical renewal movement.Link to the Dom Guéranger's Liturgical Year playlist (updated daily): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZKdyYnV_bkh7rH6piW0ShgsdcefFoOvJIf you would like to support this channel: Join on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEYRtJac7oQZQ4C0MSHT5WA/join Join on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/InprincipioPodcast One-time donations may also be made through YouTube “Thanks” (button below the video), or via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U5EZ9X2CE2V7W Most sincere thanks to all who are able to contribute, by your prayers, your patronage, or otherwise; your support sustains this channel and enables its mission to continue.