Septuagesima Poem: Prepare Ye Well

Gesimatide, Ash Wednesday, and the four Sundays of Lent before Passiontide.
The fourth Sunday of Lent is also called "Laetare Sunday".

Septuagesima: Prepare Ye Well

Septuagesima Season reminds us that we are
Not in heaven-Jerusalem, but in exile afar,
Held captive by this world of sin, this city-Babylon;
Remember we our miseries by sin and vice brought on.
A deep, honest Confession we prepare ere holy Lent,
So Lent we start within God’s grace, in spirit penitent.
And in this preparation we can see our weaknesses,
And form a Lenten practice to combat our sinfulness.
So for example, if it’s sloth to which we tend to fall,
Resolve we to not hit the snooze, but out of bed to crawl,
And day’s first battle thus is won, and each day strength we find.
Then on Good Friday offer Christ what habit we’ve refined,
And though Lent may be over with the joy of Eastertide,
This habit that we’ve formed for good need not be cast aside.