The information on Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima is taken from The Roman Missal, 1962 by Baronius Press. (Purchase here in Australia or here in the US)

The Liturgical Year

The Christmas Cycle celebrates the Mystery of the Incarnation. The Easter Cycle celebrates the Mystery of the Redemption and has the following subdivisions:

1. Season of Lent
2. Eastertide
3. After Whitesunday

Season of Lent

Introduced by three Sundays, Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima, the seaon of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with the death of Jesus in Passion Week. The struggle between Our Lord and Satan ends with the victory of the Saviour at Eastertide.

[Note: De Profundis is a perfect prayer to add to your Latin repertoire for the season of Lent.]

During the period from Septuagesima to Ash Wednesday, the liturgy speaks no more of our greatness but contemplates the misery of fallen humanity – the fatal consequences of Original Sin and actual sin – and the sacrifice God asked from the faithful Melchisedech, symbol of the sacrifice that Jesus brings for the whole of humanity.

Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima

The three Sundays preceding Ash Wednesday are called Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima, which mean respectively, the seventieth, sixtieth and fiftieth day, that is, before Easter.

They are mere names to correspond with the name of Lent (Quadragesima in Latin; fortieth) obviously they do not actually correspond with the period they indicate.

Man, victim of the sin of Adam and his own sins, is justly afflicted, groans and sorrows encompass him.

On these Sundays, the Gloria in excelsis and Alleluia are omitted, except when the Mass of a feast is said, and purple vestments are used in preparation for Lent.

The PROPERS for Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima

Listen to the Introit, Gradual, Tract, Offertory, and Communion from each week’s Propers, sung by florianisacredmusic 

IMAGE: Bruegel, Pieter – The Fight Between Carnival and Lent