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Seasons of the Liturgical YearDid you know that…
- The calendar used by the Catholic Church is called the Liturgical calendar and begins in in November on the first Sunday of Advent.
- The Liturgical calendar celebrated on Sundays follows a three year cycle:
In year A, Matthew is the primary gospel read during the year.
In year B, Mark is the primary gospel.
In year C Luke is the primary gospel.
- The Liturgical calendar is divided into six seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Triduum, Easter and Ordinary Time.
- In addition to Sunday worship, the Church also celebrates Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials. These occur during the year to commemorate special events and persons of high reverence in the Church.
THE SEASONS OF THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR
Begins: At Evening Prayer on the Sunday nearest to November 30.
Ends: Christmas Day Morning
Time of year: November - December.
Theme: The Church recalls the first coming of our Lord to humankind and looks forward to His next coming at the end of time. It is a time of hopeful expectation.
Special Notes: This season is filled with anticipation and is unique since it points to both comings of Christ: as the world’s redeemer many years ago and in His joyous second coming at the end of time.
Begins: Christmas Day Morning
Ends: The Sunday after Epiphany or Sunday after January 6, inclusive
Time of year: December - January
Theme: The Church celebrates the birth of our Lord and His early manifestations
Special Notes: Next to Triduum, this is the highest season of the year. The feasts of the Holy Family, Mary the Mother of God, and Epiphany are all celebrated in this season.
Begins: Ash Wednesday
Ends: Beginning of Holy Thursday Evening Mass
Time of year: varies; late winter to early Spring
Theme: The Church prepares for the Celebration of Easter. Liturgies prepare Catechumens and candidates for Christian initiation in the Catholic tradition and encourage the faithful to recall their baptism.
Special Notes: The "alleluia" is not sung during liturgies. Prayer, almsgiving and fasting are emphasized. The season concludes during Holy Week, which begins with Christ’s triumphant procession into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday).
Begins: Beginning of Holy Thursday Evening Mass
Ends: Evening prayer on Easter Sunday
Time of Year: Springtime
Theme: The culmination of the Liturgical year. It celebrates the Paschal Mystery, that Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected, giving us the promise of everlasting life.
Special Notes: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday comprise this season which is the shortest and greatest of the Liturgical year.
Begins: Evening prayer on Easter Sunday
Ends: Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter
Time of year: Springtime
Theme: The Church rejoices and celebrates the resurrection of Christ.
Special Notes: The Church resumes singing "alleluia" during Easter, and the season includes our celebration of Christ’s Ascension into heaven, culminating with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Begins: I. The Monday after Epiphany or Sunday after January 6, inclusive; or II Monday after Pentecost
Ends: I Tuesday before Ash Wednesday; II Evening Prayer on the Sunday nearest to November 30.
Time of year: January - November, excluding the Lenten, Triduum, and Easter Seasons
Theme: The Church celebrates all of the mysteries of Christ in all of its fullness.
Special Notes: This is the longest season of the Liturgical year, spanning 33 or 34 weeks. The Sunday readings during Ordinary Time are designed to reflect the time of the year.
Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials
Solemnities are the days of greatest importance and begin with the first vespers of the preceding day. Feasts are celebrated within the limits of a natural day. They do not have first vespers, except feasts of the Lord which fall on Sundays during Ordinary time, or during the Christmas Season. Memorials may be obligatory or optional.
The Solemnities are presented below.
January
1: Mary, Mother of God
6: Epiphany
March
25: Annunciation
May-June
Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Trinity
Sunday following Holy Trinity Sunday: Corpus Cristi
Thursday 40 days after Easter or the Sunday following it: Ascension
Friday following Second Sunday after Pentecost: Sacred Heart
June 24: Birth of John the Baptist
June 30: First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
August
15: Assumption
November
1: All Saints
Last Sunday in Ordinary Time: Christ the King
December
8: Immaculate Conception
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Sotto Voce
(Source: PCVY)