The Liturgical Year, Episode 7: Septuagesima, The Feasts of Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Fr. Charles McGuire

Fr. Charles McGuire

Holy Mother Church, in Her maternal care for Her children, not only gives us time to prepare for Her feasts by periods of penance, but applies gentle spurs to us to prepare even for our preparations.  Never is there liturgical whiplash: the liturgical year slows down before it turns.

On Easter Sunday, the peal of organs and the resounding cry of the Gloria will return after a long absence.  To ready ourselves for the joy of the Man-God's conquest of death in His Resurrection, we who are bound to do so have the long penance of Lent imposed on us.  And while Lent prepares us for Easter, the Church provides us even with a preparation for this extended period of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.  The preparation for Lent?  This is Septuagesimatide, which runs from First Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday(nine weeks before Easter) through Compline of Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.  We explore this preparation-for-the-preparation in this month's episode of "The Liturgical Year."

Also in this episode, we venture into the Canon of the Mass for the saints whose feast is celebrated on March 6, Sts. Perpetua and Felicity.  These martyrs, one a noblewoman and the other a slave, provide unparalleled examples of heroic and — though mothers — manly strength to win their heavenly crowns.  Their story, however, is largely unique in that it was penned by St. Perpetua herself, only to be to be completed by a first-hand witness to their gruesome yet glorious martyrdoms.

Join us as host Joshua Gunsher talks with Father Charles McGuire, assistant pastor of St. Gertrude the Great Catholic Church in West Chester, Ohio and priest to many mission chapels across the United States, about the upcoming season of the Liturgical Year and these two great saints in the Roman Canon.


Original Air Date: January 29, 2015
Show Run Time: 1 hour 1 minute
Show Guest(s): Father Charles McGuire
Show Host(s): Joshua Gunsher
Season 4 Sponsor:
Novus Ordo Watch

To gain unlimited access to all Restoration Radio shows, you can become an Annual member by clicking the link below.


The Liturgical Year℗ is a Production of the Restoration Radio Network. Copyright 2015. All Rights are Reserved.

Avatar photo

Member Supported Restoration Radio

Restoring Catholicism in every facet of our lives.

You may also like...