The Liturgical YearThe Liturgical Year

                                                                      

             

There are six seasons in the Liturgical Year:

Liturgical refers to the Mass; the Liturgical calendar tells us which readings from scripture are to be read at Mass.

ADVENTCHRISTMASORDINARY TIMELENTEASTER ORDINARY TIME

Yes, there are TWO seasons of Ordinary Time

ADVENTADVENT-The Church begins a new Liturgical year

-Advent lasts for four weeks, from the first Sunday of Advent until Christmas Day

-“Advent” means “coming”.

-The Advent season is a time of prayer and preparation for the feast of Christmas

-Customs of the season include the Advent Wreath (3 violet & 1 pink candle) and the Jesse Tree (symbols of the family of Jesus)

-Vestments during Advent are violetviolet

Pg. 193Pg. 193

-Christmas is the shortest Liturgical season

-Spans from Christmas Day on December 25 until the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus

-The Christmas Season includes these feasts: ~ The Nativity of Jesus (Dec. 25)~ Feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 30 OR the Sunday after Christmas)~ The Solemnity of Mary (January 1)~ The Epiphany – celebrates the visit of the Magi (January 6)~ Baptism of Jesus (Second Sunday in January

- Vestments during the Christmas Season are WHITE

ORDINARY TIMEORDINARY TIME

-During the Church Year, there are two seasons called Ordinary Time

-The first begins on the Monday after the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday

-Vestments are GREEN during Ordinary Time

LENTLENT-The Lenten Season lasts 40 days-There is no ALLELUIA said or sung during Lent -Lent is a time of prayer and sacrifice in preparation for Easter-Lent begins on Ash Wednesday:

-On Ash Wednesday, blessed palm from the previous Palm Sunday is burned to ashes

-Catholics are blessed with the ashes, and the words:~“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” OR~“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” * This blessing is a sacramental. Sacramentals give grace, but are not sacraments

-Lent includes Holy Week, which begins on Palm Sunday (aka Passion Sunday)-Vestments are violet, except during the Easter Triduum

-The Easter Triduum:-Holy Thursday – The Last Supper – white vestments-Good Friday – Jesus’ passion and death – Red vestments

*There is NO MASS on Good Friday

- Holy Saturday – Easter vigil – white vestments

-The Easter Season begins on Easter Sunday

-Easter is the greatest feast of the Liturgical Year

-Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus

-The Easter Season includes these feasts:-Ascension – 40 days after Easter; celebrates Jesus ascending into Heaven-Pentecost 50 days after Easter; recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles

- Vestments are WHITE

ORDINARY TIMEORDINARY TIME

-This season of Ordinary Time runs from the day after Pentecost to the feast of Christ the King

-This Season is a time of growth; the Church reflects on the Bible’s teachings as applied to daily life. There is an emphasis on missions and works of mercy and charity

-The feast of Christ the King is on the last Sunday of the Liturgical year

-Vestments during Ordinary Time are green, except on Trinity Sunday (white) and on the feast of a martyr (red). Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost, and celebrates the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.

-There are many Feast Days of Mary and Saints during Ordinary Time-May is a month dedicated to the Blessed Mother; October is a month dedicated to the Holy Rosary