Sun Feb 26, 2023 – 5:30 am ESTFri Feb 24, 2023 – 11:14 am EST
(LifeSiteNews) — This Sunday, the first of the six which come during Lent, is one of the most solemn throughout the year. It has the same privilege as Passion and Palm Sundays – that is, it never gives place to any feast, not even to that of the patron, titular saint, or dedication of the church.
In the ancient calendars, it is called Invocabit, from the first word of the Introit of the Mass. In the Middle Ages (more especially in France), it was called Brand Sunday, because the young people, who had misconducted themselves during the carnival, were obliged to show themselves today at the Church with a torch in their hands, as a kind of public satisfaction for their riot and excess.
Lent solemnly opens today. We have already noticed that the four preceding days were added since the time of Gregory the Great, in order to make up forty days of fasting. Neither can we look upon Ash Wednesday as the solemn opening of the season, for the faithful are not bound to hear Mass on that day.
The Holy Church, seeing her children
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