What are the "Gesima" Sundays?

After the Transfiguration of Our Lord, the last Sunday after the Epiphany, three Sundays follow with strange names: Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima.  This is the "Pre-Lent" season, a short three weeks that prepare us for the season of Lent.  The good news about these Sundays is that their name is a countdown to Easter!  Septuagesima is from the Latin for 70, Sexagesima for 60, and Quniquagesima, 50.  (Some even refer to Ash Wednesday as Quadrigesima, 40, since we are roughly 40 days from Easter.The file below will help you learn a little more about these Sundays and their significance as well as themes.