A word about the Dismissal: Saving up our Alleluias for Easter

Did you know the rubrics of The Book of Common Prayer call for a limited use of the word Alleluia in seasons other than Easter? If you look at the rubrics on pages 340 or 366, you'll see that the words Alleluia, Alleluia are to be added to dismissals only in the 50 days from Easter through the Day of Pentecost. That's why our clergy add them to the dismissal only in Easter season and not all year through.

Why would the BCP limit the use of Alleluia in such a way? My guess is that saving it up for use only during the 50 days of Easter marks Easter as the exceptional, priceless, ultimate season that it is. We made unfettered use of the joyous word throughout those 50 days, and now we restrain ourselves so that we may celebrate more fully when Easter circles around again.

Other parts of our service, including the hymns and the "Fraction Anthem" at the breaking of the bread will still contain alleluias, except in Lent. But for now, let us lovingly store up our alleluias at the dismissal until our Easter celebrations in the year to come.

- Anne+