Rachel Evans
Ordinary Time is a period in the liturgical year of the Roman Rite, which falls outside the major seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, as well as their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. Ordinary Time is divided into two sections: one lasting 4-8 weeks after Christmas Time and the other lasting about 6 months after Easter Time. The length of Ordinary Time varies between 33 and 34 weeks, depending on the date of the First Sunday of Advent. During Ordinary Time, the faithful reflect on the teachings and works of Jesus among his people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of weeks | 33 or 34 |
| Time period | Between Christmastide and Lent, and between Eastertide and Advent |
| Liturgical color | Green |
| Last Sunday | Solemnity of Christ the King |
| First week | Begins in January |
| Last week | Begins towards the end of November |
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What You'll Learn
Ordinary Time is divided into two sections
The Catholic Church's liturgical year includes a period known as Ordinary Time, which falls outside the two major seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, as well as their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. Ordinary Time is divided into two sections, with the first occurring between Christmastide and Lent, and the second between Eastertide and Advent.
The length of Ordinary Time varies between 33 and 34 weeks, depending on the date of the First Sunday of Advent in a given year. If the First Sunday of Advent falls in November, there will be 33 weeks of Ordinary Time in that liturgical year. If it falls on December 2 or 3, there will be 34 weeks. However, if Advent begins on December 1, the preceding year's Ordinary Time will only have 34 weeks in a leap year.
The first section of Ordinary Time typically spans 4-8 weeks after the Christmas season. This period is marked by the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which usually occurs on the last day of Christmas Time. However, if Epiphany is displaced to Monday due to the variability of Epiphany's date, the feast falls within Ordinary Time instead.
The second section of Ordinary Time is much longer, lasting about six months after Easter Time. During Ordinary Time, the faithful contemplate the fullness of Jesus' teachings and works among his people. This period is also an opportunity to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, whose lives exemplify the wonderful works of Christ.
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The first period of Ordinary Time is called Epiphanytide
The liturgical year in the Roman Rite consists of two central cycles: the Christmas cycle (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany) and the Easter cycle (Lent-Easter-Pentecost). Ordinary Time falls outside these two great seasons and their preparatory seasons, and is thus divided into two sections.
In the East Syriac Rite, Epiphanytide is known as the Season of Epiphany or Denha. This season begins on the Sunday between January 2 and 6, or on January 6 itself if no such Sunday exists. In the Anglican Communion and Methodist churches, Epiphanytide begins on Epiphany Day.
Popular Epiphanytide customs include Epiphany singing, chalking the door, and families inviting their pastor to bless their home. The Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church regards the time after Epiphany as a subset of the Christmas season, which ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, a feast typically celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany.
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Ordinary Time begins on a Monday
Ordinary Time is a period in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church that falls outside the two major seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, as well as their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. It is a time when the faithful reflect on the teachings and works of Jesus among his people.
Ordinary Time is divided into two sections: the first spans 4-8 weeks after Christmas, while the second section lasts about six months after Easter. The length of Ordinary Time can vary, lasting either 33 or 34 weeks depending on the calendar year.
The word "ordinary" in this context refers to the ordinal numerals used to count the weeks, from the 1st week in January to the 34th week towards the end of November. The last day of Christmas Time is marked by the Sunday after the Solemnity of the Epiphany, with Ordinary Time beginning on the following Monday. The weekdays that follow are considered part of the first week of Ordinary Time.
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord usually occurs on the last day of Christmas Time. However, if it is moved to Monday due to the Epiphany being celebrated on January 7 or 8, the feast falls within Ordinary Time instead. It is important to note that there is no designated "First Sunday in Ordinary Time" because Ordinary Time commences on a Monday.
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The liturgical colour assigned to Ordinary Time is green
Green is a liturgical colour used by Christians to represent Ordinary Time. This period is seen as an opportunity for Catholics to allow their faith to be stirred up, their spirits to rise, and their spiritual life to grow. The word "ordinary" in this context comes from the Latin word "oriens", meaning "east", which indicates the rising of the sun.
The use of green during Ordinary Time is not universal among all Christian denominations. For instance, certain Church of England churches adopted Sarum liturgical colours in the 19th century, using deep blue for Advent and unbleached linen for Lent. Methodists, on the other hand, follow a colour scheme similar to Lutherans and Roman Catholics, where red is used for Pentecost and the Sundays after Pentecost Sunday, while green is reserved for the season of Kingdomtide.
In some traditions, the first period of Ordinary Time is called Epiphanytide, which begins on Epiphany Day in Anglican Communion and Methodist churches. The Church of England observes this time between All Saints and Advent Sunday. The colour scheme suggested by the Church of England also indicates where gold vestments should be used in churches that possess gold and white as distinct colours.
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The last Sunday of Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of Christ the King
The Catholic Church celebrates the liturgical year through the Roman Rite, which is divided into two great seasons: Christmastide and Eastertide, and their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. The liturgical year is made up of 33 to 34 weeks, with the last Sunday of Ordinary Time being the Solemnity of Christ the King.
The Solemnity of Christ the King is also an occasion to reflect on the mystery of Christ and how we can live out this mystery in our own lives, following the example set by Mary and the saints. The liturgical vestments for this feast day are white, and the assigned liturgical colour for Ordinary Time is green.
The term "Ordinary Time" refers to the ordinal numerals used to count the weeks, from the 1st week in January to the 34th week towards the end of November. Ordinary Time begins on the Monday following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated on the Sunday after the Epiphany (or the Sunday after January 6th if Epiphany is moved to a Sunday). It continues through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and resumes after Pentecost.
The Solemnity of Christ the King is a significant day in the liturgical calendar, marking the end of Ordinary Time and the beginning of a new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent.
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Frequently asked questions
Ordinary Time can last 33 or 34 weeks.
Ordinary Time begins on the Monday following the Sunday after the Solemnity of the Epiphany, or the Sunday after January 6 in places where Epiphany is celebrated on a Sunday.
The last Sunday of Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of Christ the King.
Ordinary Time is the part of the liturgical year that falls outside the two great seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, or their respective preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent.
