Joshua Bennett
Easter is the most important liturgical time for Catholics. It celebrates Jesus's resurrection and ascension, and his victory over sin and death. The Easter season is a period of 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, celebrated as a single joyful feast. Each Sunday during the Easter season is treated as a Sunday of Easter. The first eight days of the Easter season make up the Octave of Easter and are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord. The date of Easter is determined as the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox (March 21).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | First Sunday after the Paschal full moon (the first full moon on or after March 21) |
| Date range | March 22 to April 25 |
| Octave of Easter | The first eight days of the Easter season are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord |
| Pentecost Sunday | Occurs 50 days after the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday |
| Ascension of the Lord | Occurs 40 days after the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday |
| Palm Sunday | The Sunday before Easter Sunday |
| Ash Wednesday | The Wednesday before the first Sunday of Lent (found by going back six weeks from Easter Sunday) |
| The Feast of Mercy | The Sunday after Easter |
| Divine Mercy Sunday | The Second Sunday of Easter |
| Fourth Sunday of Easter | Good Shepherd Sunday, Vocations Sunday, or Jubilate Sunday |
| Sixth Sunday of Easter | Vocem jucunditatis or Sunday of the Man Born Blind |
Explore related products
$17.05 $27.95
![[Light of Jesus] Scripture Scrolls (12 Pack) for Christian-Religious Halloween Toys | Trunk-Trick or Treat | Faith Based Fall Festival Party Favors Pumpkin Crafts | Church-Sunday School Goodie Bags](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61IheEG--3L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Easter Sunday is the greatest of all Sundays
The date of Easter Sunday is determined by the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter is then celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, and so it always falls between March 22 and April 25. The season of Easter is a sacred period of 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, celebrated as a single joyful feast, or a "great Sunday". Each Sunday during this period is treated as a Sunday of Easter.
The Octave of Easter, or Easter Week, is the first eight days of the Easter season, celebrated as solemnities of the Lord. It is a way of prolonging the joy of Easter Sunday. During this time, the Paschal Candle, a symbol of the presence of the Risen Christ, remains in the sanctuary near the altar. The Easter Vigil, the night before Easter Sunday, is known as the "Mother of All Vigils". The fifty days of Easter are characterised by the joy of glorified life and the victory over death, expressed in the great cry of "Alleluia".
The readings during Eastertide reflect the themes of new life and rebirth. The first three Sundays are dedicated to the readings about the appearances of the risen Christ. The fourth Sunday, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday, has readings about the Good Shepherd. The fifth, sixth, and seventh Sundays have excerpts from the Lord's discourse and prayer at the Last Supper.
Catholicism: A Christian Denomination?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon
Easter is the most important liturgical time for Catholics. It celebrates Jesus's victory over sin and death and his ascension to heaven, culminating in the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Easter Sunday is the greatest of all Sundays.
The date of Easter is determined by the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter is then celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon. This means that Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25.
The season of Easter is a sacred time of new life and joy, spanning 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. Each Sunday during this period is treated as a Sunday of Easter, with the first eight days constituting the Octave of Easter, celebrated as solemnities of the Lord. The Octave of Easter is a way of prolonging the joy of the initial day, with every day during this period likened to a little Sunday.
The date of Easter Sunday determines the dates of other important days in the liturgical calendar. Palm Sunday, for example, falls one week before Easter Sunday, while Ash Wednesday falls six weeks before Easter Sunday (or four days before the first Sunday of Lent).
Authenticity of After the Warning: A Catholic Perspective
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Octave of Easter is the eight days after Easter Sunday
Easter is the most important liturgical time for Catholics. It celebrates Jesus's victory over sin and death and his salvation of mankind. It is considered God's greatest act of love to redeem mankind. The Octave of Easter is the eight days that begin on Easter Sunday and end on the Second Sunday of Easter. It marks the start of Eastertide. The Octave of Easter is a way of prolonging the joy of Easter Sunday. Each day of the Octave is like a little Sunday. During the Octave, the Paschal Candle, a symbol of the presence of the Risen Christ, remains in the sanctuary near the Altar or Ambo until Pentecost Sunday.
The Octave of Easter is also known as Easter Week, with the first seven days of the Octave being referred to as such. The Octave Day was also historically called Dominica in albis (White Sunday or Sunday in White Garments) because it was the day that the newly baptised would lay aside their baptismal whites. The Octave of Easter is celebrated with daily Mass. The Gospel readings for each of the middle days within the Octave are taken from the various Scriptural accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus.
The Octave of Easter is one of two solemnities with octaves in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the other being Christmas. The Octave days are given the second-highest rank in the calendar, ranking above normal solemnities. The octave day itself is kept with greater solemnity than the "days within the octave". During each Mass of the Octave, the Alleluia is sung at the conclusion.
The fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday are celebrated in joy and exultation as one feast day, indeed as one "great Sunday". The season of Easter is characterised by the joy of glorified life and the victory over death expressed most fully in the great cry of the Christian: Alleluia!
Catholics and Gambling: Sin or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Easter Sunday [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71BpkYuN-9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The Feast of Mercy is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter
Easter is the most important liturgical time for Catholics. It celebrates Jesus's victory over sin, death, and salvation for mankind. It is God's greatest act of love to redeem mankind. Easter Sunday is the greatest of all Sundays.
The date of Easter is the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter will always fall between March 22 and April 25.
The Feast of Mercy, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, is celebrated on the Sunday immediately after Easter. This feast day was instituted following a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s. In her diary, St. Faustina recorded 14 revelations from Jesus concerning His desire for this feast. In her diary entry 699, she wrote:
> My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.
Divine Mercy Sunday is a day when Catholics celebrate the merciful love of God that lies behind the whole Paschal Mystery—the mystery of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is a day when all souls are invited to contemplate God's unfathomable love and mercy.
Catholics and Alternate Lifestyles: What's the Verdict?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Ascension of the Lord occurs 40 days after Easter Sunday
The Catholic Church celebrates Easter as the most important liturgical time, commemorating Jesus's triumph over sin and death and salvation for mankind. Easter Sunday is the greatest of all Sundays, marking the Lord's Resurrection from the dead.
The Ascension of the Lord occurs forty days after Easter Sunday, when Jesus ascended bodily and with his soul into heaven. This event is described in the Acts of the Apostles, which holds that Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after His resurrection. This period of forty days is also mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, where it is noted that Jesus showed himself alive to his apostles, giving them instructions through the Holy Spirit.
The Ascension is a Holy Day of Obligation, a day when the Catholic Church expects its members to attend Mass. Historically, the Ascension was celebrated on the Thursday in the sixth week after Easter, forty days after Easter Sunday. However, in recent times, there has been a shift, particularly in the U.S., to celebrate the Ascension on the seventh Sunday after Easter, which is referred to as "Ascension Sunday". This change was made to encourage greater attendance, as Catholics are already expected to attend Mass on Sundays.
The Ascension is distinct from Pentecost, which occurs ten days after the Ascension and fifty days after Easter. Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after His Ascension.
Finding Your Soulmate: A Catholic's Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are 50 days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday.
Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox (March 21).
The Octave of Easter is the first eight days of the Easter season, celebrated as solemnities of the Lord. Each day of the Octave is like a little Sunday.
