Farewell to Alleluia

This is our family's first year at a new church, and we are still learning about the Anglican tradition. Today we got to sing many wonderful hymns with "Alleluias." This excerpt of a newsletter article by Mary McIntire, our church music director, explains:

"Historically the saying and singing of "alleluias" has been suspended during the 40 days of Lent because of the penitential character of the season. It is suggested that the joyful nature of alleluia is more appropriately reserved for Easter celebrations when it can be given full and jubilant voice. The omission of alleluias during Lent goes back at least to the 5th century in the Western Church. The custom of actually bidding it farewell was developed in the Middle Ages. The hymn "Alleluia, Song of Gladness" contains a translation of an 11th century Latin text that compares an alleluia-less Lent to the exile of the Israelites in Babylon. The text then anticipates the joy of Easter when glad alleluias will return in all their heavenly splendor."

I like the idea of singing Alleluia hymns on the last Sunday of Epiphany. We need the memory of Alleluias past and the anticipation of Alleluias to come to carry us through the dark times not only of Lent, but of our own lives.

(Stained glass window from choir loft of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Wyandotte, Michigan.)