Did you know that…
The Liturgical calendar celebrated on Sundays and
other special church days follows a three year cycle. Readings
are assigned to Liturgical Years A, B, and C. Years
which are evenly divisible by 3 are assigned year C,
such as 1995. Year A follows year C, Year B follows
Year A, and Year C follows Year B. Bear in mind that
Liturgical Years start on the first Sunday of Advent
of the previous year, so December 1, 1996 started
Liturgical Year B. (You may
have to read that again!)
In year A, Matthew is the primary gospel
read during the year.(2008)
In year B, Mark is the primary gospel.(2006)
In year C, Luke is the primary gospel. (2007)
The Liturgical calendar is also 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.
ADVENT
Begins: 4th Sunday before
Christmas.
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 and preparation for the Christmas
season.
| Vestment Colors: |
Violet |
- Represents Expectation, Purification, or Penance |
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.
CHRISTMAS
Begins: Christmas Day Morning
Ends: The Sunday after Epiphany - The
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Time of year: December - January
Theme: The Church celebrates the birth of
our Lord and His early manifestations
| Vestment Colors: |
White |
or |
Gold |
- Represents Joy and Triumph. |
Special Notes: Next to Triduum, this 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.
LENT
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.
| Vestment Colors: |
Violet |
- Represents Expectation, Purification, or Penance. |
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).
TRIDUUM
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.
| Vestment Colors: |
White |
or |
Gold |
- Represents Joy and Triumph. |
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.
EASTER
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.
| Vestment Colors: |
White |
or |
Gold |
- Represents Joy and Triumph. |
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.
ORDINARY TIME
Begins: The Monday after Epiphany or
Sunday after January 6, inclusive; or Monday
after Pentecost
Ends: Christ the King Sunday. (The
last Sunday before the beginning of Advent.)
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.
| Vestment Colors: |
Green |
- A sign of Life, Growth and Hope. |
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
Solemnitie: 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.
| Vestment Colors: |
Red |
- Represents Royalty, Fire,
and Martyrdom. |
The Solemnities are presented below.
*
Indicates holy day of obligation.
January
January 1: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
(Solemnity)
March
March 19: Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed
Virgin Mary (Solemnity)
April
May
June
June 24: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
(Solemnity)
June 29: Saint Peter and Saint Paul, apostles
(Solemnity)
August
August 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary (Solemnity)
November
*November 1: All Saints
(Solemnity)
December
*December 8: Immaculate Conception
of Mary (Solemnity)
*December
25: Christmas (Solemnity)
