No alleluia/Leaving early

Q Recently our pastor mentioned that during Lent we bury the “A” word.  What does that mean?

A Burying the “A” word means that during Lent, we fast from saying or singing “Alleluia.”  It disappears completely from the Mass and our liturgy.  

“Alleluia” is a Hebrew word meaning “praise the Lord.”  It is a joyous word where we praise God for establishing the kingdom of heaven for us.  Lent is a time for repentance and looking forward to Christ rising from the dead and opening up the gates of the kingdom of heaven for us, a kingdom that is to come, not one that has already come.  So, we bury “alleluia” until it rises again on the night of the Easter Vigil.  

During Lent, the Gospel acclamation of “alleluia” is replaced.  At Immaculate Conception, we sing “Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of Endless Glory” to introduce the Gospel during the Lenten days leading up to Easter.

Fasting from “alleluia” creates an anticipation for us, an anticipation for the coming of Christ at Easter, similar to the verse in the song “How Can I Keep From Singing:”  

“Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing
It finds an echo in my soul
How can I keep from singing?”

In some places, the word “alleluia” is actually buried in the ground honoring a centuries’ old tradition.  In 15th century France, a board or banner with the word “alleluia” beautifully written on it was actually buried in a coffin only to be resurrected at Easter.  

Here is the procedure found in a book from Toul, France during that time period: “On Saturday before Septuagesima Sunday (the ninth Sunday before Easter) all choir boys gather in the sacristy during the prayer of the None, to prepare for the burial of the alleluia. After the last Benedicamus Domino (i.e., at the end of the vespers service) they march in procession, with crosses, tapers, holy water and censers; and they carry a coffin, as in a funeral. Thus they proceed through the aisle, moaning and mourning, until they reach the cloister. There they bury the coffin; they sprinkle it with holy water and incense it; whereupon they return to the sacristy by the same way.”

“Alleluia”… we will see you again at Easter.

Q Why should I stay to the end of Mass?

A There are many reasons to stay to the end of Mass and the final dismissal. Here are a few:

Do you really want to join in the Judas shuffle?  At that first Mass on that first Holy Thursday night, Judas was the first to leave before it was over, and we know what happened to him.  Be like the other apostles – stay to the end.  They are all saints.

Mass is not an event that you attend just to check off something on your to-do list.  You should come to Mass to strengthen your relationship with Jesus.  He gave everything for us; just look at the crucifix.  Give those last few minutes back to him. 

Leaving Mass early can be distracting to those who are praying after receiving Communion.  You should be considerate to them.

Before the final blessing and dismissal, the priest may have some final words.  Don’t miss them.

Take advantage of that final blessing by the priest.  I don’t know about you, but I need all of the blessings that I can get.

Keep this in mind.  Don’t judge those who leave Mass early.  They may have a good, valid reason.  

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at [email protected].