1. The Liturgical Year The Paschal Mystery in Time

2. Triduum Considered a SINGLE CELEBRATION spread over three days Most solemn and important season of the year Not only “remembering”, but making the saving events present in our time (not re-enactment but re-presentation) Baptismal orientation with the font as both womb and tomb

3. The Great Fifty Days of Easter ALL Sundays through Pentecost celebrated with the intensity and festivity of Easter Sunday (environment and music) Best season for the celebration of the initiatory Sacraments In our society it is more difficult to maintain a feast than to fast. Beauty, truth, and genuineness are key in the celebration of Mystery

4. Lent Season of preparation for Baptism (or renewal of Baptismal promises) Preparation for other sacramental celebrations Ancient preparatory disciplines are prayer, fasting, almsgiving (works of charity) Restrained celebration so that the joy of Easter may show more fully.

5. Christmas - Epiphany Celebration of the birth and manifestation of Christ – past and present Reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation – Emmanuel – past and present Challenge = how is the Incarnation a celebration of the Paschal Mystery

6. Advent Preparation for both the Second Coming of Christ and for the Feasts of Christmas – Epiphany The coming of Christ in history and the coming of Christ in judgment Reflection on the role of Mary in salvation history Restrained celebration

7. Ordinary Time Not a “season” but the remainder of the year Ordinal – “counted” time Alternately called “Sundays of the year” Celebration of some aspect of the paschal mystery – the saving and sacrificial LIFE of Christ.

8. Sanctoral Cycle Celebration of feasts of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints These, too, are Christocentric Connection to the paschal mystery may be explicit, or may be more subtle. Solemnities, Feasts, Memorials, Optional Memorials, Days of the Season Not necessarily celebrated universally... Particular calendars abound.

9. Implications for Leaders Leading the Word Liturgical Context Audience Personal context Occasion.