Why does the Catholic Church have a liturgical year? Jeff explores the significance of the liturgical calendar and explains how it helps us conform our lives to Christ's life. From the start of Advent to the Feast of Christ the King, Jeff breaks down the seasons, colors, feasts, and solemnities that shape the liturgical year. He also shares practical ways to integrate the liturgical cycle with our personal schedules to live more fully united to Christ.

Snippet from the Show

"The liturgical year of the Church conforms our life to the life of Christ so that we can better realize and experience the saving work of Jesus, our Lord."

Shownotes

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Quotes

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near"- Hebrews 10:23-25

“On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass. The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied by assistance at a Mass which is celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day” -CCC 2180

The Cycle of Readings

The Sunday lectionary (guide to liturgical readings) is a three-year cycle of three readings. The first reading usually comes from the Old Testament and parallels the theme of the Gospel reading of the day. The second reading is usually from the epistles or the book of Revelation. The lectionary is so extensive that over a three-year cycle, nearly the entire New Testament and the most significant portions of the Old Testament are covered.

The Gospel readings are arranged in such a way that they match the life of Christ to the season celebrated. There are three cycles used to gain the most comprehensive look at the life of Christ.

1. Cycle A: Matthew
2. Cycle B: Mark
3. Cycle C: Luke
4. The Gospel of John is used in all three cycles, especially during cycle A in Lent.

Solemnities, Feasts and Memorials

As the Church celebrates the mystery of Christ in a yearly cycle, it also venerates Mary, the Mother of God, with a particular love, and sets before the devotion of the faithful the memory of the martyrs and other saints. The saints of universal significance have celebrations that are obligatory throughout the entire Church. Saints are great role models as they have been successful in serving the king and continue to pray for our success (Hebrews 12:1). Other saints are left to the veneration of particular regions or religious families.

Days of Obligation

The Church has determined that certain days are so important to the life of the faithful that they are deemed “days of obligation.” On these special days, Christians are obligated to attend Mass and enter into the mystery of Christ. The following are days of obligation.

1. The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God.
2. Easter
3. The Ascension
4. The Assumption of Mary
5. The Feast of All Saints
6. The Immaculate Conception

The Liturgical Seasons

Advent: We prepare for the coming of the King.

Color: Violet

Advent is a time of twofold preparation: a season to prepare for Christmas, which marks the first coming of Christ, and a season when the heart and mind prepare for the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.

Christmas: We celebrate the birth of the King.

Color: White

The Church holds the memorial of Christ's birth most sacred, next to the yearly celebration of the Paschal mystery of Easter.

Christmas has its own octave:

1. Sunday within the octave is the feast of the Holy Family.
2. December 26^th is the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr.
3. December 27^th is the feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist.
4. December 28^th is the feast of the Holy Innocents.
5. December 29, 30 and 31 are days within the octave.
6. January 1^st is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos).

Epiphany is the last Sunday of the Christmas octave. This commemorates the visit of the wise men.

Ordinary Time: We learn the teachings of the King &work at building the Kingdom.

Color: Green

Thirty-three or thirty-four weeks remain in the yearly cycle that does not celebrate a specific aspect of the mystery of Christ. Rather, especially on the Sundays, they are devoted to the mystery of Christ in all its aspects.

Lent: We prepare for the most important action of the King.

Color: Violet

Lent is a preparation for the celebration of Easter. Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

1. The word “Alleluia” is not used from the beginning of Lent until the Easter vigil.
2. On Ash Wednesday ashes are distributed reminding the faithful that it was from dust they came and dust they will return.
3. The sixth Sunday of Lent marks the beginning of Holy Week and is called Palm Sunday.

Triduum: We enter into the final week of the King’s life.

Color: White/Red

The culmination of the liturgical year is the Easter Triduum of the passion and resurrection of Christ. Easter is to the liturgical year what Sunday is to the week, the zenith of celebration. This Holy Week is marked by five special days:

1. Palm Sunday: Jesus enters Jerusalem at the same time the sacrificial flock (Passover) enters Jerusalem. Color: Red.
2. Holy Thursday: The bishop blesses the oils and consecrates the chrism. The oil will be used on those who will receive the sacrament of confirmation during the Easter Vigil.
3. Good Friday marks the betrayal and arrest of the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane. We venerate the cross of Christ.
4. The Easter Vigil: The vigil, called “the mother of all vigils,” is celebrated on the Saturday night preceding Easter Sunday. The Church keeps watch, eagerly awaiting the Lord's resurrection.

The Easter Season: We enter into the resurrection life of the King.

Color: White

Easter Sunday: The celebration of the Resurrection of the King. The fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost are celebrated as one great Sunday.

1. The liturgical readings during this period (mystagogy) aim to educate the new believer in the mystery of Christ. These days correspond to the 40 days after the resurrection when Jesus taught his disciples very important truths about the kingdom.
2. The first eight days of the Easter season make up the octave of Easter.
3. On the fortieth day after Easter, the Ascension is celebrated.
4. The weekdays after the Ascension until the Saturday before Pentecost are a preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
5. Pentecost (50) celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). (Color: Red)