Why Do We Not Sing “Alleluia” During Lent?

In Catholic liturgy, every gesture and every hymn carries deep theological meaning. Therefore, the fact that we do not sing “Alleluia” during Lent is not a minor detail, but a profound spiritual sign.

“Alleluia” comes from the Hebrew Hallelu Yah, meaning “Praise the Lord.” In the Mass, it is sung before the Gospel as a joyful acclamation welcoming Christ. It is a cry of victory, glory, and resurrection—a song filled with Easter joy.

Lent, however, is a different season. It is a forty-day journey during which the Church invites the faithful to enter into repentance, fasting, and prayer, uniting themselves with the Passion of Jesus Christ. The liturgical color is violet, symbolizing penance and preparation. For this reason, the radiant and triumphant cry of “Alleluia” is set aside.

This silence is not a loss, but an act of longing. Just as a seed must be buried in the earth before it can blossom, the joy of Easter must be prepared through humility and repentance. When the Alleluia is absent, we feel its absence—and that very feeling deepens our anticipation.

Then, at the Easter Vigil, when the priest solemnly intones “Alleluia” for the first time after forty days of silence, the congregation responds with overflowing joy. It is not merely the return of a hymn, but the triumphant proclamation of new life after the journey through the desert.

Thus, refraining from singing “Alleluia” during Lent teaches us to wait, to desire, and to rediscover the true joy of the Resurrection.