the liturgical year

The Liturgical YearThe Liturgical Year

Since Christ’s life and Since Christ’s life and sacrifice are such a sacrifice are such a

TREMENDOUS, INFINITE TREMENDOUS, INFINITE REALITY, we cannot grasp REALITY, we cannot grasp

them all at once.them all at once.

The CHURCH resents Christ's The CHURCH resents Christ's life and sacrifice in PARTS, life and sacrifice in PARTS, so we can LIVE THEM OUT so we can LIVE THEM OUT

EVENT by EVENTEVENT by EVENT..


The Way we RE LIVE The Way we RE LIVE each of the great each of the great events of Christ’s life.events of Christ’s life.

The Way the Church The Way the Church each year TEACHES us each year TEACHES us by LIVING THEM by LIVING THEM AGAIN, through a cycle AGAIN, through a cycle of seasons and feasts.of seasons and feasts.

The Liturgical yearThe Liturgical year

Begins with the Begins with the First Sunday of First Sunday of ADVENT – the ADVENT – the fourth Sunday fourth Sunday before before Christmas and Christmas and ends with the ends with the Feast of CHRIST Feast of CHRIST THE KING.THE KING.


Each Mass has an ordinary Each Mass has an ordinary or unchanging parts as a or unchanging parts as a

proper or unchanging parts proper or unchanging parts tat varies to the liturgical tat varies to the liturgical

year. year.

The Liturgical yearThe Liturgical year

We actually We actually relive, with relive, with Christ, the events Christ, the events of His life, of His life, death and death and resurrectionhelps resurrectionhelps us celebrate the us celebrate the life, death and life, death and resurrection of resurrection of Jesus.Jesus.

This is called the This is called the paschal mystery.paschal mystery.

The Liturgical CycleThe Liturgical Cycle

Paschal mystery is Paschal mystery is celebrated through celebrated through specific seasons.specific seasons.

There are five There are five specific seasons in specific seasons in the Church’s the Church’s calendar:calendar:

Advent, Christmas, Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter.Lent and Easter.

CHRIST IS PRESENT IN EACH CHRIST IS PRESENT IN EACH MASS. MASS. We actually take part in the We actually take part in the

great events of is Life. CHRIST is great events of is Life. CHRIST is present in a special way at each feast, present in a special way at each feast, communicating something to us each communicating something to us each

time.time.


Throughout the liturgical year of the Throughout the liturgical year of the Church brings before us God’s WORD –Church brings before us God’s WORD –the BIBLE.the BIBLE.


A THREE YEAR cycle A THREE YEAR cycle of Sunday Scripture of Sunday Scripture readings brings readings brings before us all the before us all the significant parts of significant parts of the Bible and the the Bible and the most significant for most significant for our salvation recur our salvation recur each year.each year.

Liturgical YearLiturgical Year

The Liturgical The Liturgical year is the cycle year is the cycle of events called of events called PROPER OF THE PROPER OF THE SEASONS: Two SEASONS: Two 92) seasons 92) seasons built around the built around the are CHRISTMAS are CHRISTMAS and EASTER.and EASTER.


Each season has Each season has different religious different religious practices, and practices, and symbolssymbols..

The Scripture The Scripture readings, prayers are readings, prayers are PROPER to the PROPER to the season. Each feast season. Each feast has a season of has a season of preparation, the preparation, the central feast itself central feast itself with its minor feast, with its minor feast, and a continuation or and a continuation or prolongation of the prolongation of the spirit of feast.spirit of feast.


ADVENT and CHRISTMAS SEASONADVENT and CHRISTMAS SEASON

The Liturgical Year The Liturgical Year

Preparation during Advent : The Church Preparation during Advent : The Church begins on late November or early begins on late November or early

December with these four Sundays before December with these four Sundays before Christmas (PURPLE vestments).Christmas (PURPLE vestments).


Through PRAYER, REFLECTION, and Through PRAYER, REFLECTION, and SELF-DISCIPLINE we prepare ourselves SELF-DISCIPLINE we prepare ourselves

for the coming of Christ- the for the coming of Christ- the Scriptures readings are mainly from Scriptures readings are mainly from

the prophets who foresaw the the prophets who foresaw the Messiah. We also look forward to His Messiah. We also look forward to His

Second coming-the Scriptures Second coming-the Scriptures continues this theme from November.continues this theme from November.


CELEBATION- Christmas December 25. We CELEBATION- Christmas December 25. We rejoice that God has come among us and rejoice that God has come among us and we have been born with Him into the new we have been born with Him into the new

eternal life of grace (WHITE or GOLD eternal life of grace (WHITE or GOLD vestments)vestments)


HOLY FAMILY Sunday HOLY FAMILY Sunday between Christmas and January 1between Christmas and January 1


Feast of Mary, Mother of God January Feast of Mary, Mother of God January 1 Octave, a celebration eight days 1 Octave, a celebration eight days after Christmas- a day to pray for after Christmas- a day to pray for

world peace.world peace.


Feast of EPIPHANY on January 6 Feast of EPIPHANY on January 6 the Sunday between January 2 and January the Sunday between January 2 and January 8 on which we celebrate the cal of Gentiles 8 on which we celebrate the cal of Gentiles

to follow Christ.to follow Christ.


Continuation -Continuation -Sundays in Sundays in Ordinary Time Ordinary Time leading up to leading up to Lent Lent (GREEN (GREEN vestments)vestments)


Feast of BAPTISM of the LORD Feast of BAPTISM of the LORD the Sunday after January 6 – the beginning the Sunday after January 6 – the beginning of Christ ministry among us with his first of Christ ministry among us with his first

Miracle at Cana.Miracle at Cana.

During the During the Sundays Sundays in Ordinary Time we in Ordinary Time we go through the one of go through the one of the four gospels, the four gospels, roughly in sequence roughly in sequence using the three year using the three year cycle to bring before cycle to bring before us the words and us the words and action of Jesus’ life action of Jesus’ life and ministryand ministry


Cycle A- MATTHEW; Cycle B- MARK; Cycle Cycle A- MATTHEW; Cycle B- MARK; Cycle C- LUKE 9read in years divisible by three, C- LUKE 9read in years divisible by three,

such 1998; john’s Gospel is mostly such 1998; john’s Gospel is mostly reserved for the season of Lent and Easterreserved for the season of Lent and Easter


Cycle A- MATTHEW; Cycle B- MARK; Cycle C- Cycle A- MATTHEW; Cycle B- MARK; Cycle C- LUKE 9read in years divisible by three, such LUKE 9read in years divisible by three, such

1998; John’s Gospel is mostly reserved for the 1998; John’s Gospel is mostly reserved for the season of Lent and Easterseason of Lent and Easter


EASTER SEASONEASTER SEASON


Preparation during Lent – Preparation during Lent – begins Ash Wednesday until begins Ash Wednesday until

EasterEaster(Excluding Sundays)(Excluding Sundays)


Through this time of special Through this time of special prayer, fasting, and voluntary prayer, fasting, and voluntary self-discipline, we do penance self-discipline, we do penance for our sins, trying to die to for our sins, trying to die to

selfishness, greed and selfishness, greed and self-indulgence. self-indulgence.

FORTY signifies a sufficiently a long period of time- In

the New Testament, Jesus

was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights

as Israel had wondered in the desert for forty

days.

Before Before Samson’s Samson’s

deliverance, deliverance, Israel served Israel served

the Philistines the Philistines for 40 years for 40 years

(Judges 13:1).(Judges 13:1).

Goliath taunted Goliath taunted Saul’s army for Saul’s army for 40 days before 40 days before David arrived David arrived to slay him to slay him

(1 Samuel 17:16).(1 Samuel 17:16).

When Elijah fled When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he from Jezebel, he traveled 40 days traveled 40 days and 40 nights to and 40 nights to

Mt. Horeb Mt. Horeb

(1 Kings 19:8).(1 Kings 19:8).

Forty days was Forty days was the period the period from the from the

Resurrection Resurrection of Jesus to of Jesus to

the Ascension the Ascension of Jesus. of Jesus. (Acts 1:3). (Acts 1:3).

The Gospel readings The Gospel readings focus on repentance focus on repentance

& rebirth.& rebirth.

For the ELECT the For the ELECT the 33rdrd ,4 ,4thth & 5 & 5thth

Sundays are from Sundays are from Cycle A, they center Cycle A, they center

o baptismal o baptismal symbolism from symbolism from John’s Gospel.John’s Gospel.


The last Sunday of lent is The last Sunday of lent is Passion Sunday and we enter Passion Sunday and we enter

the Holy Week, the most the Holy Week, the most important time of the year. important time of the year. During the Holy week we During the Holy week we reenact in the Liturgy the reenact in the Liturgy the

sufferings and death of Christ.sufferings and death of Christ.


Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday eve-celebrates Holy Saturday eve-celebrates

the great events of our the great events of our salvation, with special services salvation, with special services each day. It is the climax of the each day. It is the climax of the

Church year and Human Church year and Human History.History.


EASTER SEASONEASTER SEASON


And as we prepare to RISE And as we prepare to RISE a new commitment of our a new commitment of our

life to Christ at Easter, life to Christ at Easter, with those being with those being

baptized.baptized.


ASCENCION of Christ ASCENCION of Christ

(WHITE or GOLD vestments)(WHITE or GOLD vestments)


PENTECOST (RED vestments) 3PENTECOST (RED vestments) 3rdrd great feast of the Church-the great feast of the Church-the coming of the Holy Spirit and coming of the Holy Spirit and

the birthday of the Churchthe birthday of the Church


TRINITY SUNDAY TRINITY SUNDAY celebrating celebrating the mystery that is our the mystery that is our

uniquely Christian belief about uniquely Christian belief about God.God.


The Feast of the Body and The Feast of the Body and Blood celebrating is Blood celebrating is

Eucharistic Presence.Eucharistic Presence.


Continuation -Continuation -Sundays in Sundays in Ordinary Time Ordinary Time leading up to leading up to Advent Advent (GREEN (GREEN vestments)vestments)

The Liturgical YearThe Liturgical YearNow we return to the weekly Now we return to the weekly cycle readings begun before cycle readings begun before Lent. These are some 24 or Lent. These are some 24 or 26 weeks through summer 26 weeks through summer

and fall. During these and fall. During these months months

we follow the words and we follow the words and actions of Christ, seeking to actions of Christ, seeking to

grow In love and faith.grow In love and faith.


CHRIST the KING SundayCHRIST the KING Sunday

Permission GrantedPermission Granted

Permission is granted for the Permission is granted for the distribution and copying of this file.distribution and copying of this file.

My request is for you and your family My request is for you and your family to pray the rosary for the intentions to pray the rosary for the intentions of our Pope. of our Pope.

Thank you,Thank you,

Kathy Kathy

[email protected]@hotmail.com

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