Summary
In preparation for the Vatical II liturgical reform, the traditional Tridentine Mass celebrates three Sundays before Lent: Sexagesima, Sessegima, and Quinquagesima. The article focuses on the Exsurge, quare obdormis introitus from Sessegima’s celebration. Written by Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster in his Liber Sacramentorum (Volume I), this liturgical passage expresses hope amidst despair, using a prayer from Psalm 44. This Sunday marks an ancient tradition of praying at Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls Basilica during times of siege and crisis. In modern contexts, this introitus resonates with contemporary issues like social confusion and state emergencies. Marcello Veneziani’s 2024 work “Senza eredi” by philosopher Giorgio Agamben highlights how the power relies on emergency declarations, which can lead to de facto authoritarianism when applied to public life. Meanwhile, Brazilian theologian Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira interprets this liturgical prayer as a sign of faith crisis affecting humanity since the 15th century.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Sessagesima, Exsurge quare obdormis
