On the Observance of Lent
In his Holy Rule St. Benedict devotes Chapter 49 to the Observance of Lent:

The life of a monk ought at all times to be Lenten in its character; but since few have the strength for that, we therefore urge that in these days of Lent the brethren should lead lives of great purity, and should also in this sacred season expiate the negligences of other times. This will be worthily done if we refrain from all sin and apply ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart, and to abstinence. In these days, therefore, let us add something beyond the wonted measure of our service, such as private prayers and abstinence in food and drink. Let each one, over and above the measure prescribed for him, offer God something of his own free will in the joy of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer, Fasting, and Mercy
The communal practice of observing a forty day fast before Easter is thought to date back to the apostles, according to accounts given by early church fathers. St. Athanasius (296-373 AD) in his Festal Letter XIX exhorted his congregation: "Anyone who neglects to observe the Forty Days Fast is not worthy to celebrate the Easter Festival." However, fasting alone is not enough. Saint Peter Chrysologus (380-450 AD) wrote eloquently of the inseparable link between Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving:

There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.

Fasting is the soul of prayer, almsgiving is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others you open God’s ear to yourself.

When you fast, see the fasting of others. If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.

Burial of the Alleluia
The Alleluia is "buried" at Vespers the day before Ash Wednesday. Alleluia, or hallelujah, is one of the few Hebrew words adopted by the Christian Church from apostolic times. It means "Praise the Lord!" According to the regulation of Pope Alexander II (1073) the Alleluia is sung twice after the Benedicamus Domino at Vespers on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and not heard again until the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday when we sing the three-fold Alleluia before the Gospel.

Throughout the centuries there were many elaborate ceremonies for burying the Alleluia. In the fifteenth-century statute book of the church of Toul we find this description of a ceremony:

“On Saturday before Septuagesima Sunday 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 [i.e., at the end of the 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.”

His Wings Will Overshadow You
During Lent the texts we sing at Mass and during the Hours on the First Sunday of Lent are taken from psalm 90 which we sing at the Office of Compline every night. Compline is the last office we sing at the end of the day, before we go to sleep and it contains a plea for a peaceful night and protection against Evil. At Vespers the Brief Responsory, Versicle, and Response are also from this beautiful psalm:

R. br. Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi. (He will overshadow you with His pinions.)
Et sub pennis sperabis. (And under His wings you will hope.)
V: Angelus suis Deus mandavit de te. (God has given His angels charge over you.)
R: Ut custodian te in omnibus viis suis. (To guard you in all your ways.)

Lenten Hymns for Vespers and Lauds
We are pleased to offer you original translations by Joseph T. Moller of the hymns that we sing throughout Lent. The hymn Audi Benigne Conditor was composed by Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604) and is sung at the Office of Vespers. Acknowledging our human frailty, it is a plea for God's forgiveness: "Scrutinize and nourish our hearts, the weakness of men you know, to those returning to you show forgiveness and grace."

The hymn from Lauds, Iam Christe Sol Iustitiae, probably composed in the 10th Century, is full of hope and a promise of resurrection, that in the day of Christ, all things will "re-flower". The hymn is sung as the sun is rising, so we are asking Christ, the Sun of Justice:"From our minds scatter all shadows, that virtue’s light return, as to the earth You restore the day." The hymn's Gregorian Chant melody and rhythm beautifully express Lenten joy and hope.