Ethan Walker
The Catholic liturgical calendar is a complex system that guides the Church's year, punctuated by seasons and feast days. The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, which falls on the Sunday closest to November 30th, and ends on the feast of Christ's Nativity. The liturgical calendar is organised by the Church and is enriched by observances of local Churches, whether national, diocesan, parish-level, or religious community. The calendar is an opportunity for the faithful to celebrate the sacred mysteries of their faith and participate in the living mystery of salvation. It includes seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Ordinary Time, each with its liturgical colours and rituals. The date of Easter, for example, determines the beginning of Lent, and feast days like Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord are also incorporated into the liturgical calendar.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Liturgical year | Consists of a seasonal cycle (Proper of Time) and a sanctoral cycle (Proper of Saints) |
| Liturgical year organization | Governed by the Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar |
| Liturgical year beginning | First Sunday of Advent during the preceding calendar year |
| Advent | Four Sundays, with the third being Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of Rejoicing |
| Christmas | Recalling the Nativity of Jesus Christ and his manifestation to the world |
| Sacred Paschal Triduum | The holiest three days of the Church's year, recalling the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus |
| Easter | 50 days of celebration of the Lord's resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit |
| Lent | 40 days (not including Sundays) of preparation for Easter, including fasting, penance, and almsgiving |
| Ash Wednesday | Marks the beginning of Lent |
| Epiphany | Celebrated on January 6th in the universal church calendar, but transferred to the Sunday after January 1st in the US |
| Ordinary Time | A period within the liturgical year that does not celebrate Christmastide or Pascha, nor is it penitential like Advent or Lent; it is a time of hope and growth in Christ |
| Holy Days of Obligation | Six Solemnities are observed as feasts of precept in the United States, including the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, the Assumption, All Saints' Day, the Immaculate Conception, and Christmas |
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What You'll Learn
Advent
The Catholic liturgical year begins with Advent, which starts on the Sunday closest to November 30 and ends on Christmas Eve, December 24. The season of Advent is four weeks long and holds profound meaning within the Catholic faith. It is a time of preparation and introspection, marking the arrival of Christ in people's hearts, in the world, and in God's plan for salvation.
During Advent, the liturgical color purple is used, reminding Catholics of their imperfections and the need for repentance. It is a time for penance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which helps to quiet and discipline hearts in preparation for the joy of Christmas. The season also includes Scripture readings that call for vigilance and readiness for Christ's second coming at the end of time, as well as reflections on the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament and their fulfillment in Jesus.
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Christmas
The Catholic Christmas season starts on the Nativity, December 25, and ends on the Sunday Mass celebration of the Epiphany on January 5. The 12 Days of Christmas, likely adapted from pre-Christian winter festivals, are the 12 days between Christmas Day and Epiphany. The first day of Christmas is the Nativity of the Lord. The date of Christmas is likely connected to an ancient multi-day Roman feast related to the winter solstice.
The Christmas season begins with Advent, which starts on the First Sunday of Advent during the preceding calendar year. For example, the First Sunday of Advent in 2019 began the 2020 liturgical year. Advent proceeds over four Sundays, with the third being Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of Rejoicing, marking the midpoint.
The 12 Days of Christmas include the feasts associated with the Octave and four additional celebratory days. The seventh day of Christmas is the Feast of (Pope) St. Sylvester and New Year's Eve in the secular calendar. The eighth day of Christmas is the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, and New Year's Day. The ninth day of Christmas is the Feast of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen. The tenth day of Christmas is the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. The eleventh day of Christmas is the Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The twelfth day of Christmas is the day before Epiphany, also celebrated as St. John Neumann's feast day.
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Lent
The Catholic liturgical calendar is structured around the mystery of Christ, with each liturgical year beginning on the First Sunday of Advent, during the preceding calendar year. The liturgical calendar is organised by the Church and includes seasonal and sanctoral cycles, as well as observances specific to local churches.
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Easter
The Catholic Church determines its calendar through the liturgical year, which is made up of a seasonal cycle (Proper of Time) and a sanctoral cycle (Proper of Saints). The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, during the preceding calendar year. The liturgical calendar is governed by the Church and is enriched by observances proper to local Churches, whether national, diocesan, parish-level, or religious community.
The date of Easter is determined through a calculation known as Computus or Computus Paschalis (Latin for 'Easter computation'). As a moveable feast, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is a mathematical approximation of the first astronomical full moon on or after 21 March (the vernal equinox). This date was established by the Council of Nicea in AD 325.
The complexity of the Computus algorithm arises from the desire to associate Easter with the date of the Jewish feast of Passover, which Christians believe is when Jesus was crucified. In the early third century, the church valued a system that allowed the clergy to determine the date of Easter independently yet consistently, eliminating dependencies on the Hebrew calendar.
Determining the date of Easter in advance requires a correlation between the lunar months and the solar year, while also accounting for the month, date, and weekday of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. The Golden Number is a value used in Computus to determine the dates of new moons for each year, following a 19-year cycle. The Moon repeats its phases approximately every 19 years, and the Golden Number represents a year in that cycle.
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Ordinary Time
The liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church is organised into a seasonal cycle, known as the Proper of Time, and a sanctoral cycle, known as the Proper of Saints. The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, which falls on the Sunday closest to November 30.
The liturgical calendar includes Ordinary Time, which is a period that follows the Christmas season. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Ordinary Time. During Ordinary Time, Gospel passages relate the events of the public ministry of the Lord, commencing with His baptism.
The liturgical calendar guides the faithful in celebrating the sacred mysteries of their faith. While the liturgical year follows a cycle of seasons and feast days, each year offers an opportunity for spiritual renewal and a fresh perspective on the mysteries of salvation. Ordinary Time, as part of the liturgical calendar, contributes to the overall rhythm and structure of the Catholic Church's observance and celebration of significant events and seasons.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic liturgical calendar is a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle, called the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively. It is organized and published by the Church and includes observances by local churches.
The liturgical calendar follows the same course of seasons punctuated by various feast days. The liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent, which falls on or closest to November 30, and ends with the feast of Christmastide. The liturgical calendar includes seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Ordinary Time.
As determined by the Council of Nicea (AD 325), Easter is the Sunday that follows the first full moon after the vernal equinox (spring). Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, is 40 days before Easter (not including Sundays).
