Covenant HouseholdBefore Lent
Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima are the three Sundays before Lent. In round numbers, their names count down to Easter: seventy, sixty and fifty days.
The lessons start the book of Genesis: the creation, the fall and the flood.
Dates
- Sunday 1 February 2026 to Tuesday 17 February 2026
- Sunday 24 January 2027 to Tuesday 9 February 2027
- Sunday 13 February 2028 to Tuesday 29 February 2028
Septuagesima
O LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
The collect for the Sunday called Septuagesima, or the third Sunday before Lent.
- SeptuagesimaGenesis 1:1–2:3; John 1:1–18
- Monday after SeptuagesimaGenesis 3; Matthew 15:29–16:12
- Tuesday after SeptuagesimaGenesis 6:5–22; Matthew 16:13–28
- Wednesday after SeptuagesimaGenesis 8:1–14; Matthew 17:1–23
- Thursday after SeptuagesimaGenesis 11:1–9; Matthew 17:24–18:14
- Friday after SeptuagesimaGenesis 13; Matthew 18:15–35
- Saturday after SeptuagesimaGenesis 15; Matthew 19:1–15
Sexagesima
O LORD God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The collect for the Sunday called Sexagesima, or the second Sunday before Lent.
- SexagesimaGenesis 3; Mark 9:33–50
- Monday after SexagesimaGenesis 17:1–22; Matthew 19:16–20:16
- Tuesday after SexagesimaGenesis 19:1–3; Genesis 19:12–29; Matthew 20:17–34
- Wednesday after SexagesimaGenesis 22:1–19; Matthew 21:1–22
- Thursday after SexagesimaGenesis 24:1–28; Matthew 21:23–46
- Friday after SexagesimaGenesis 25:1–11; Genesis 25:19–34; Matthew 22:1–33
- Saturday after SexagesimaGenesis 27:1–40; Matthew 22:34–23:14
Quinquagesima
O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee; Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
The collect for the Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the next Sunday before Lent.
- QuinquagesimaGenesis 12:1–8; Matthew 5:1–16
- Monday after QuinquagesimaGenesis 29:1–20; Matthew 23:13–39
- Tuesday after QuinquagesimaGenesis 31:22–32:2; Matthew 24:1–28