Processions in the Rubrics of Lent

It’s a little hard to believe, but Ash Wednesday is just over a week away. Here at Pistachio House, we just took down the last of our Christmas decorations on Candlemas, and here we are practically in Lent already!

The modern Roman Missal has a set of rubrics that cover the whole of Lent, before it digs into each day separately. Let’s take a look at them, because there may be some surprises.

Most folks are familiar with number 4, even if the musical instruction is often ignored. And I’d venture to say that number 3 is not exactly unknown to priests and ministers, if not the folks in the pews.

But what’s up with number 1? I have never experienced a Lenten procession before Mass. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of one happening locally. I know that this happens in some European countries, most especially Spain and in Rome, but the United States?

And why not? It comes “strongly recommended”.

It sounds like a lovely tradition, walking through the streets in penitential procession chanting the Litany of the Saints. More processions, I say!

As an example, here is Pope Francis walking in an Ash Wednesday procession in Rome a few years ago.

And then there’s number 2, which continues number 1. It contains a reference to the Lenten penitential celebrations found in the Roman Ritual. And this leads us down a rabbit hole.

These days, the book known as the Roman Ritual is actually divided into several volumes. The Wikipedia article linked above lists these in their (Latin) Typical edition. As you might expect, the section on “Penitential Celebrations during Lent” is found in the volume on the Order of Penance (beginning on page 177).

The “Examples of Penitential Celebrations” make for fascinating reading, particularly some of the rubrics.

4. Sometimes in these celebrations, the Sacrament of Penance is included. In this case, after the readings and Homily, and the Order of Reconciling Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution (nos. 54 – 59) are used …

Emphasis mine. It is possible to celebrate these penitential services without actually including the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In my travels throughout France and especially Spain, I visited chapels maintained by various Orders of Penitents. I suspect that these sorts of penitential rites are common to them. Certainly, I’ve never seen them celebrated in the United States, where these sorts of Orders are, so far as I know, unknown.

The adaptations provided in the rites regarding their emphasis are also interesting.

7. Two examples of penitential celebrations more suitable for Lent are given here. The first emphasizes penance as strengthening or restoring baptismal grace; the second shows penance as a preparation for a fuller participation in the Paschal Mystery of Christ and the Church.

So there’s a lot for parishes to consider as they prepare for celebrations of the Lenten season, now only eight days away!