The Liturgical Year                                                                                    

There are six seasons in the Liturgical Year: 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 Yes, there are TWO seasons of Ordinary Time

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

CHRISTMAS SEASON 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

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

LENT - Holy Saturday – Easter vigil – white vestments 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

EASTER SEASON 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

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