Today is the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday and Lent. It is known unofficially as “Alleluia Sunday” when we say or sing farewell to Alleluia until the Easter Vigil. Alleluia, or hallelujah, is one of the few Hebrew words adopted by the Early Church and kept in the Mass. It means, "Praise the Lord.”  It is interesting that nowhere and at no time was any effort made to translate it into the vernacular.

Pious farmers, oarsmen, and tradesmen sang it while working, mothers taught their babies to pronounce "alleluia" before any other word.

"Alleluia, the Lord is risen" became the general greeting of Christians in early medieval times on Easter Sunday. In the early centuries, it was used only during Easter time, but soon it was used during the year, except, of course, during Lent. It is even sung at funerals as an expression of the conviction that for a true Christian, the day of death was actually the birthday to eternal life, a day of joy.

Down through the centuries, there were many customs attached to the reposition of the alleluia. One of the more interesting customs was the “burial” of the alleluia. Either a parchment or a woodcut with the word alleluia was taken out by the choirboys or altar boys to the Church’s graveyard and buried. Over time, there was even a casket made to protect the alleluia. It was ‘resurrected’ on the Easter Vigil.

The following hymn about the dismissal of the Alleluia, which was composed in the 10th century, used to accompany the procession to the graveyard. It is the best known of these hymns:

Alleluia, Dulce Carmen

O Alleluia, song of gladness, Voice of joy that cannot die;

Alleluia is the anthem ever dear to choirs on high;

In the house of God abiding thus they sing eternally.

Alleluia thou resoundest,True Jerusalem and free;

Alleluia, joyful mother, All thy children sing with thee;

But by Babylon’s sad waters mourning exiles now are we.

Alleluia we deserve not here to chant forevermore;

Alleluia our transgressions make us for a while give o’er;

For the holy time is coming bidding us our sins deplore.

Therefore in our hymns we pray Thee, grant us, blessed Trinity,

At the last to keep Thine Easter in our home beyond the sky;

There to Thee forever singing Alleluia joyfully. Amen.

So we sing farewell until Easter when the Solemn Easter Alleluia is chanted at the Easter Vigil.

Reminder: Ash Wednesday is this week. The schedule of Masses and services for Ash Wednesday are listed in the bulletin. It is now the time to prepare for the season of Penance. It is also important to teach our children and help them keep the discipline of Lent. There are two aspects of Lent; one is to give something up and to add a spiritual exercise.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are a days of fast and abstinence. All the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence as well. Abstinence from meat is for those who are aged 14 until death. Fasting is for those aged 18 until 59, requires only one full meal with two smaller meals.

I also would like to thank the anonymous giver, who bought us 500 copies of Lenten Magnificat Seasonal books. They are available at the ushers’ table.

Have a good and prayerful season of Lent.