Benedictus Deus

This week is the start of Septuagesima, which marks nine weeks until Easter. This brief season is used to prepare ourselves for Lent. In the past I have used this time to ease into my Lenten penance. But there is more to it than that. In fact that is not even the primary purpose of the season. Rather this is a season to examine out own miseries, “the wounds caused in our soul by sin” as Dom Gueranger says. And also to appreciate how great is the love and mercy of our Divine Redeemer. An appreciation of these will engender a longing for the Heavenly Jerusalem from which we are alienated, and help us to be properly disposed to the fasting and penance of Lent. For, if we do not take stock of the severity of our sins and our want of God’s mercy we will not feel the compunction necessary to maintain a rigorous fast.

So, I am trying to use this season as one big examination of conscience. To start Lent out right, I will try to get to confession during Shrovetide (the last few days before Ash Wednesday).

Here is my Septuagesima post from last year, with some excellent quotes from the Liturgical Year.