The Words We Speak: Alleluia

-
Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius

The word Alleluia holds deep significance in the Catholic Church.

Origins and Meaning

The word Alleluia originates from the Hebrew phrase "Hallelu Yah", meaning "Praise the Lord". It was used in the Jewish liturgy and passed into the early Christian Church, where it took on a deeper spiritual meaning. The word is a "kind of acclamation and a form of ovation" expressing joy, thanksgiving, and triumph in the Lord.


Liturgical Use

The Alleluia has a prominent place in Catholic liturgy, particularly during the Easter season and in hymns of praise. It is a exclamation of joy and a climactic moment in the liturgy, such as before the Gospel reading. The repetition of "Alleluia" is seen as a continuous "breath of the soul" in praise of God.

Spiritual Significance

For Catholics, the Alleluia represents a profound expression of devotion and spiritual exaltation. St. Augustine described it as a "consolation" for the pilgrim on earth, a foretaste of the eternal "Alleluia" sung in the heavenly homeland. The word embodies the joy, triumph, and thanksgiving that should characterize the Christian's relationship with God.

In summary, the Alleluia:
  • is a cherished liturgical and spiritual expression in the Catholic Church;
  • is rooted in the ancient Jewish tradition;
  • carries deep meaning as a joyful acclamation of praise to the Lord.
References
  1. Catholic Encyclopedia Alleluia
  2. Catholic Encyclopedia Gradual
  3. General Audience of 9 January 2002 1
  4. General Audience of 15 September 2004 4
Burying the Alleluia

The Catholic Church has a tradition of "burying the Alleluia" during the liturgical season of Lent.

Suppression of the Alleluia during Lent

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Alleluia is suppressed or omitted during the penitential season of Lent, because a "cry of joy" is incongruous with the somber themes of Lent. This was done in preparation for the joyful return of the Alleluia at Easter.

Farewell to the Alleluia

The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that the "farewell to the Alleluia" was once a solemn occasion, with special antiphons and hymns sung in some churches to mark the end of the Alleluia until Easter. This included the singing of the hymn Alleluia, dulce carmen in French churches.

Alleluia, dulce carmen,
Vox perennis gaudii,
Alleluia vox suavis,
Est choris cælestibus,
Quem canunt, Dei manentes
In domo per sæcula.


Symbolic Burial

The practice of "burying the Alleluia" is a symbolic gesture where the word is ceremonially "buried" or set aside during Lent, only to be "resurrected" and joyfully proclaimed again at the Easter Vigil and throughout the Easter season. This reflects the penitential nature of Lent and the anticipation of the Easter celebration.
In summary, the "burying of the Alleluia":
  • is a longstanding Catholic tradition that reflects the liturgical and spiritual significance of this word of praise;
  • is a symbolic way of setting aside the joyful acclamation of "Alleluia" during the Lenten season, in order to heighten the sense of anticipation and celebration when it is restored at Easter.
References
  1. Catholic Encyclopedia Christian Burial
  2. Catholic Encyclopedia Gradual
  3. Catholic Encyclopedia Septuagesima
  4. Catholic Encyclopedia Paschal Tide
  5. Catholic Encyclopedia Office of the Dead
  6. Catholic Encyclopedia Alleluia
Further Reading

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments will be appreciated and posted if 1) they are on topic and 2) preserve decorum.

Stand by your word. Do not be anonymous. Use a pseudonym.

Popular Posts

Life At The Altar Rail: 22 Behaviours Categorized

-
Image
Cantius/NLM [ 4 min read ] Some communicants make things interesting (...tricky, delicate, awkward, awesome...) at The Communion. Now don't get the wrong idea. Spoofing one's brothers' and sisters' behaviour is not meant to be proof of one's own moral or spiritual superiority. There's always a need to keep in mind the heart of another when lampooning (or celebrating) the externals, as curious or as laudable as those externals might be. The Moving Target: either the head or the tongue is moving a mile a minute. A good patener knows how to tame the fidget. See also #18: The Rubberneck. The Obstacle Course: fingertips touching the chin or mouth making it difficult for the patener to place the paten beneath the chin. The Curtain: face is completely covered with a veil. The NOFB (Not Open For Business): closed eyes, closed mouth; despite the need for a gentle prompt, typically a deeply reverent person. The Taker: wants to steal the Host from the priest. Note to commu...
Read more

You Know You're In A Progressive Catholic Parish When... .

-
Image
... you rarely (if ever) hear the following phrases. "Party like it's A.D. 1570!" "We should sing more plainchant at this parish." "I'd like to thank the choir for their sublime rendition of the Mass For Five Voices by William Byrd." "I just love the way the four torchbearers process in with such dignity." "People treat the Host like a snack. I think it's time we went back to communion on the tongue." "My entire family goes to Confession every week." "We need a central Tabernacle on the altar." "The altar servers' lace cottas are so beautiful." "I just love Father Steve's sermons about the Real Presence and living a Eucharistic life." "People are leaving in droves for Saint Pius X Parish and the reverent Mass there. Do you think we're doing something wrong here at Harvey Milk Parish?" "I'm thrilled that the design for the new church includes a choir loft....
Read more

Review: Saint Gregory's Prayer Book

-
Image
Two copies of the St. Gregory's Prayer Book (SGPB) arrived a few days ago. It is a lovely work replete with beautiful devotions drawn from the English Patrimony. Both Ordinariate and diocesan Catholics would do well to acquire a copy to access its riches. The SGPB is "a collaborative venture" of the three personal ordinariates and the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society . A blurb from the Ignatius Press site where one can go to purchase copies: https://www.ignatius.com/St-Gregorys-Prayer-Book-P3228.aspx The St Gregory's Prayer Book is a beautifully produced leatherette prayer book compiled by the Ordinariates established by Pope Benedict XVI and drawing on the riches of the Anglican liturgical heritage and the exquisite Cranmerian language of the Book of Common Prayer to further enrich the panoply of Catholic liturgy and devotion. The text includes ancient English collects, introits and hymns available together for the first time for the whole Church...
Read more

You know you're a REAL altar server when... .

-
Image
In a movie theatre, you genuflect before entering the aisle to take a seat. Riding a bus, sitting in class or at the doctor's office, and/or when watching TV, you rest your hands palms down on your thighs, finger tips at your knees. You can identify each and every variety of incense used in the Mass simply by its scent. You habitually wear black socks and black dress shoes... even when wearing shorts for gym class or at the beach. You turn a perfect right angle when entering a building. You have nightmares about serving Mass at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. You hear a bicycle bell ring and you drop to your knees. You can't resist the urge to lift a curtain from the bottom. You have a copy of Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described by Adrian Fortescue on your smartphone for recreational reading. You have a copy of Ritual Notes (11th Edition) on your smartphone for recreational reading. As a torchbearer, you can carry a processional candle without spilling one dr...
Read more

TRUE PARTICIPATION IN THE MASS

"I was gathered into the offering of the Son to the Father. I participated in the self-offering of God today."
Every effort is made herein this blog to conform to the teaching of the Church - Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est. Comments are welcome.