2. Liturgical refers to the Mass; the Liturgical calendar tells us
which readings from scripture are to be read at Mass.
There are six seasons in the Liturgical Year:
⇒ADVENT
⇒CHRISTMAS
⇒ORDINARY TIME
⇒LENT
⇒EASTER
⇒ORDINARY TIME
Yes, there are TWO seasons of Ordinary Time
3. ADVENT
-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 violet
Pg. 193
4. -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
5. ORDINARY 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
6. LENT
-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
7. -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
8. ORDINARY 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
