Friends In Christ,

 Q: Why do we omit alleluias during Lent, and when did this custom start?

A: The short answers are "Because" and "a long time ago". But those would not be helpful or interesting answers. Lent is a season of 40 days taking this number from the 40 days of fasting by Jesus when he was lead into the wilderness by the Spirit following His Baptism. At the end of those 40 days and 40 nights He was tempted by Satan. As a penitential season we consider our sins, the very sins for which Jesus was crucified. Fasting has traditionally been a part of confessing sins. Daniel 9:3 and the following verses speaks of fasting, sackcloth and ashes being part of confession. The removal of alleluias from our worship is a form of our "fasting" from this wonderful word of praise to God. In a willing and intentional way we go without or give up the alleluias for this time so that we may greatly rejoice on Easter with "Alleluia! Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! Alleluia!" Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" is often used to return alleluia to use in style.

Now about when this started. The "propers" are the portions of the worship service which change from Sunday to Sunday. One of the propers is called The Gradual. It is a portion of scripture read, sung, or chanted between the Old Testament and Epistle readings. (Where we say The Verse of the Month.) On non-Communion Sundays we have begun using a Praise Hymn as a Gradual. The propers go back to the very early time of the Christian church. At the beginning of the 5th century Augustine already mentions the Gradual as a part of the church's liturgy. What does this have to do with alleluias? Except during Lent, the Gradual for virtually any Sunday will contain the word alleluia. So, during Lent the use of alleluia was suspended "a long time ago".

In Lutheran Service Book you will notice the Alleluia and Verse is replaced by another versicle (page 173 for example). In Lutheran Worship it is the verse (to be read along with the Gradual) which contains the alleluias, except in Lent. If you recall The Lutheran Hymnal (pages 20 and 21 provide Sentences for the Seasons containing alleluia except during Lent.

Pastor Steve