Burying the Alleluia— A Catholic Tradition


A solemn way to say goodbye to a very joyous word until it is said again at Easter.

During the entire 40 days of Lent the word “Alleluia” is completely absent from the liturgy of the Church. It is never said once, even on Sundays. However, it is an important word, one that deserves an appropriate send off before resuming its use at the Easter Vigil.

First of all, the word “Alleluia” is rooted in a Hebrew expression that means “praise the Lord.” It is frequently found in the Psalms and has been always associated with joy and exultation. This is why it is forbidden during Lent, a somber liturgical season focused on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. To put it simply, Lent is like one long Good Friday.

With this in mind the Alleluia never fit in the Lenten season, but Christians over the centuries didn’t think it was right to simply stop saying it. Instead they “buried” it in a solemn ceremony. It was a way to put the Alleluia into the “tomb,” only to discover it again at Easter when the stone is removed and the Alleluia is “resurrected.”

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