Collect: O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
Septuagesima
Septuagesima is the 9th Sunday before Easter, and thus, the third Sunday before Lent. “Septuagesima” comes from the word “seventieth” in Latin. This Sunday always falls within seventy days before Lent. These weeks before Lent can also be called “Shrovetide” and they are meant to be days to prepare for Lent. This week, there are no saints listed on the ordo calendar. So instead, I listed the Lenten resources that we have and put little excerpts up, so that you can see what piques your interest.
Book Recommendations for Lent?
When I look at what we have for Lent, I see that we are really lacking in Lenten book recommendations. I have a list of our priest’s recommendations (and I have a few to add), but I would also love to incorporate your suggestions. When you think of books you have read for Lent, what comes to your mind? Why do you recommend it? Who do you think should read it? Please comment below!
Homely Links
If you have children, I highly recommend buying this book before Lent starts! It’s clear, lovely and extremely helpful to orient the Lenten season.
In the book, Alary sets out a map for Lent, explaining in simple but lovely prose that Lent is for “making time,” “making space,” and “making room” for the kingdom of God in our everyday lives. She connects the seasonal rhythms of the natural world and the liturgical rhythms of the church calendar. The illustrations by Ann Boyajian are subtle and evocative, very appropriate to the subject matter.
This is an interview style post with our priest, Fr. Wayne McNamara, asking questions about Lent and specifically, Ash Wednesday.
“Lent is the season where we might find ourselves like the prodigal son, finding our way home, returning to a more committed relationship with the Lord and His people, a time of spiritual renewal. It is a time where we (individually, as families, as parishes) face more deliberately all our unfaithfulness and failures. It is a time of fasting to remind us that our deepest hunger is for God and Him alone It is a time of cleansing and the removing of all kinds of impediments to the joyful coming of the Kingdom of God which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Hot Cross Buns are traditional Good Friday fare, but I also read about making them for Ash Wednesday on Like Mother, Like Daughter. So, we made them on Shrove Tuesday, as we also anticipated eating pancakes for dinner:
“When we became Anglican and my husband found out that a pancake dinner was incorporated traditionally into the church year, he knew we had come home. Something like “The Prayer Book, Church Year AND Pancakes: What More Could You Want?” would somewhat convey his exuberance at the discovery. “
- Lenten Collects (Printable)
You can print out the collects for all of Lent.
- Prayer Beads for Children (Printable Prayer Cards)
Making Anglican prayer beads could be a great Lenten activity with your children. Bley also formatted prayer cards for you to print.
This reflection from Bley one of our most shared posts on the Homely Hours!
It seems fitting during this penitential season to talk a bit about taking our children to worship. There are no greater instruments of joy and humility in my life than our five charming and curious children. More often than not over our 7 years of child rearing and church going, have I sat in the pew, translating references in the liturgy to “the flesh,” to, “the mortification of the flesh.” Oh, the embarrassment! Oh, the travails!
A reflection on Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal from our church’s art historian (and priest’s wife!) Sandy McNamara:
Art critics analyzing the Return of the Prodigal note that the father’s hands are portrayed with one masculine left hand and one feminine right hand. The left hand demonstrates a father’s strong embrace placed on the boy’s shoulder, while the right hand is soft and motherly, welcoming the son back. The theme of Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal is a profound reminder to all of us as we journey through Lent to come back to our Heavenly Father who welcomes us and to find comfort in our mother the Church who bids us return home.
I (Amanda) reflect on emotions and virtue with some quotes from N.T. Wright and C.S. Lewis:
It is a great encouragement to me that I can make virtuous choices, by the power of the Holy Spirit, whether or not I feel like it. In fact, as Lewis puts it, that fixation on figuring out whether my emotions are authentic and right can actually be a way of making me focus on myself rather than God.
Another reflection Lenten Cooking with some quotes from a favorite book, The Supper of the Lamb by Robert Farrar Capon. Here is a quote:
“Let us fast, then– whenever we see fit, and as strenuously as we should. But having gotten that exercise out of the way, let us eat. Festally, first of all, for life without occasions is not worth living. But ferially, too, for life is so much more than occasions, and its grand ordinariness must never go unsavored.” (Robert Farrar Capon)
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