Lent at OLL 2025
Lenten Events
Lenten Resources
Common Questions About The Final Weeks of Lent
Liturgical Music During Lent
As we begin the season of Lent, we find increased silence before and after Mass, as musical preludes, postludes, and interludes are suspended during this season. We also refrain from singing the Gloria and Alleluia. The fast of these two joyful acclamations is intended to help us immerse ourselves into the penitential character of this liturgical season and promote a longing for the jubilation and glory of Easter. The increased silence surrounding the liturgy, in union with the restrained and solemn character of our liturgical music, helps us enter into the desert with Christ throughout these forty days and will allow the joy of the Easter season to shine forth all the more gloriously.
New Sanctus
Why is There More Silence Before the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)?
You may notice more silence between the Sign of Peace and the Lamb of God. Following the Sign of Peace, the priest prepares the Eucharist to be distributed by the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. Then, he begins the Fraction Rite, which is the breaking of the consecrated host. While he is breaking the bread, the Lamb of God is sung. Some of our Lamb of God settings are quite lengthy, so they begin shortly after the Sign of Peace. Since our Lent setting is very short, we observe more silence after the Sign of Peace so as to properly line up this litany with this essential liturgical action.