I must admit that I do not understand this. What is it about being penitential that means we should quit telling people to praise the Lord (which is what the word “hallelujah” means)?When they say “put away” it means simply that it’s not used. IOW, it’s “put away” until Easter. In the Latin Church, the “Alleluia” is considered festal, and as such is not used during any penetential season. Not during Septuagesima, nor Lent, nor Advent nor at Requiems. The Eastern and Oriental Churches are much more liberal with the use of Alleluia. In the Syriac Churches, for example, whereas it is replaced in certain penetential Offices by “praise the Lord” it is still retained in specific places (e.g, before the Gospel) in the Order of Mass, even during Lent,

I don’t think so at all.In the Middle Ages there were some churches that practiced the custom of taking a sign with the word “alleluia” on it and literally burying the sign on church grounds until Easter Sunday.
I was told that in a Theology class but I don’t remember the citation. It could be just a legend, but it is a nice image.
Because the prayers of the church follow the liturgical cycle through various fasts and feasts. As the alleluia is apparently considered festal in the Latin Church, you don’t use it during penitential periods (e.g., Lent). This might not have much relevance now that the Latin Church does not keep such a strict fasting calendar as it once did, so I’m not sure how to make it clear, but…um…you wouldn’t wear ashes on your forehead outside of Ash Wednesday, right? It’s sort of like that. There are some things that you do during certain parts of the year, but not others.I must admit that I do not understand this. What is it about being penitential that means we should quit telling people to praise the Lord (which is what the word “hallelujah” means)?
We don’t quit telling people to praise the Lord, we just say it differently. For example, the refrain for the Gospel Acclamation, instead of “Alleluia” is usually “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!”I must admit that I do not understand this. What is it about being penitential that means we should quit telling people to praise the Lord (which is what the word “hallelujah” means)?
Dear DaveBj,I don’t think so at all.
I googled the phrase “burying a sign with the word alleluia” – more than 7 million hits :bigyikes:
Indeed. And some handmissals even say that “Benedicamus Domino” (Let us bless the Lord) is used instead of “Ite Missa Est” (Go, you are dismissed).As is the “Gloria” put away.![]()
Cyril, if you are interested in traditional practices and an explanation for them, get yourself (if you are financially able) a set of The Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger. This and many other traditions are thoroughly explained in the books.Sancta Missa.org mentioned that on Septuagesima Sunday the alleluia was not said until the Vigil of Easter. It was mentioned that the alleluia is “put away”.
Please explain.
While the Gloria is put away during Advent, not so the Alleluia.When they say “put away” it means simply that it’s not used. IOW, it’s “put away” until Easter. In the Latin Church, the “Alleluia” is considered festal, and as such is not used during any penetential season. Not during Septuagesima, nor Lent, nor Advent nor at Requiems. The Eastern and Oriental Churches are much more liberal with the use of Alleluia. In the Syriac Churches, for example, whereas it is replaced in certain penetential Offices by “praise the Lord” it is still retained in specific places (e.g, before the Gospel) in the Order of Mass, even during Lent,
That site was on the first page of responses to my search.
Exactly! I really don’t get the point of not saying “Alleluia”, when the same thing is said, at the same time in the Mass; it is simply in another language.We don’t quit telling people to praise the Lord, we just say it differently. For example, the refrain for the Gospel Acclamation, instead of “Alleluia” is usually “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!”
Thank you Lormar, I will look into this.Cyril, if you are interested in traditional practices and an explanation for them, get yourself (if you are financially able) a set of The Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger. This and many other traditions are thoroughly explained in the books.
Not during Septuagesima, nor Lent, nor Advent nor at Requiems.
Yes, “alleluia” is used in Advent in the Extraordinary Form and at least some of its predecessors.While the Gloria is put away during Advent, not so the Alleluia.
Ooops, I failed to notice which forum I was in. It’s sung during Advent and at Funeral Masses in the Ordinary Form. Perhaps it isn’t so in the Extraordinary Form.
At least according to the “Lenten Customs” webpage linked in 's post,coachdennisExactly! I really don’t get the point of not saying “Alleluia”, when the same thing is said, at the same time in the Mass; it is simply in another language.
In the West, alleluia came to have a particular association with the celebration of the most important feast of the Church year, Easter, and this led to some unique, beautiful, interesting customs.
The association of alleluia with Easter led to the custom of intentionally omitting it from the liturgy during the season of Lent, a kind of verbal fast which has the effect, not of depressing the mood of the liturgy, but of creating a sense of anticipation and even greater joy when the familiar word of praise returns.
I’m looking at an old Paroissien Romain Missal I have, imprimatur 1936, and the Alleluia is definitely used during Advent, but not at the Requiem Mass.While the Gloria is put away during Advent, not so the Alleluia.
Ooops, I failed to notice which forum I was in. It’s sung during Advent and at Funeral Masses in the Ordinary Form. Perhaps it isn’t so in the Extraordinary Form.