Pre-Lent

Print, book-illustration (BM 1927,0210.8)

Pre-Lent is a period in the liturgical calendar of some Christian denominations that precedes the season of Lent. This period is observed primarily in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Eastern Catholic Churches, and some Western Christian traditions. Pre-Lent serves as a time of preparation for the penitential season of Lent, which culminates in the celebration of Easter.

Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Traditions

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches that follow the Byzantine Rite, Pre-Lent is known as the Triodion period. It begins three weeks before the start of Lent and includes the following Sundays:

• Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee: This Sunday emphasizes humility and repentance, drawing from the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee found in the Gospel of Luke.
• Sunday of the Prodigal Son: This Sunday focuses on forgiveness and the boundless mercy of God, based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
• Meatfare Sunday: Also known as the Sunday of the Last Judgment, this is the last day on which meat is permitted before Lent begins. It is followed by a week known as Cheesefare Week, during which dairy products are still allowed.
• Cheesefare Sunday: Also called Forgiveness Sunday, this is the final day before Lent begins. It is marked by the Rite of Forgiveness, where faithful ask for and extend forgiveness to one another.

Western Christian Traditions

In some Western Christian traditions, particularly those of the Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church, a similar preparatory period exists, though it is less formally structured than in the Eastern traditions. This period may include:

• Septuagesima: Approximately seventy days before Easter, marking the beginning of the pre-Lenten season.
• Sexagesima: Approximately sixty days before Easter.
• Quinquagesima: Approximately fifty days before Easter, immediately preceding Ash Wednesday.

Significance

The Pre-Lent period is significant as it provides a time for Christians to prepare spiritually for the rigors of Lent. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and the cultivation of virtues such as humility, forgiveness, and charity. The themes and readings during this period are designed to help the faithful enter Lent with a proper mindset and heart.

See Also

• Lent
• Easter
• Liturgical year
• Eastern Orthodox Church
• Anglican Communion
• Lutheran Church