Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima Sundays

[NoNameMe78]

Hello,
Could anyone tell me why after the revision to the Liturgical Calendar in 1969 that these Sunday were no longer observed? And could someone tell me in layman terms what they mean besides using Latin and how many Sundays before the start of Lent or Easter they are.
Thank You

 

[IrishAm]

*Septuagesima *Sunday - ninth Sunday before Easter
*Sexagesima *Sunday - eighth Sunday before Easter
*Quinquagesima *Sunday - seventh Sunday before Easter

From my old missal – "The Latin word Septuagesima sigifies 70th; and it comes from the practice of some early Christian commnities that began the Lenten fast on the 70th day before Easter; other communities began it on the 60th day before, and others on the 50th day before Easter. The day on which the fast began was called Septuagesima dies, . . . The period of fasting took its name from the first day, and the first Sunday of the period was called in Latin, Dominica in Septuagesima . . .

"About the year 600, when Pope Gregory the Great made the season of Lent uniform for the whole Church, the three Sundays before Ash Wednesday still retained their ancient names, although in the liturgical arrangement, the number of days does not correspond with the names of the Sundays . . . "

 

[NoNameMe78]

Thank You for your answer. I was looking in my missal from the 1960’s. I first thought it was 3 Sundays after Ash Wednesday till I researched it in my parents Bible and found it to be before Ash Wednesday. Plus non of the readings corresponding to anything currently.
God Bless.