Joshua Bennett
The Catholic Church organises its liturgical year into three cycles: the sanctoral cycle, the seasonal cycle, and the Sunday cycle. The liturgical year is structured around the life of Christ, from incarnation to ascension, and the expectation of his second coming. The sanctoral cycle, or the Proper of Saints, celebrates the feasts of the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The seasonal cycle, or Proper of Time, includes seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, each with its own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer. The Sunday cycle is divided into three years, labelled A, B, and C, with each year focusing on a different Gospel. The weekday cycle is divided into two years, Year I and Year II, which alternate annually.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Cycles | 3 |
| Cycle Names | A, B, or C |
| Cycle Order | Year A, Year B, Year C, then back to A |
| Cycle Focus | Readings from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke |
| Cycle Initiation | Second Vatican Council |
| Cycle Initiation Year | 1969 |
| Sunday Readings | At least 2, 3 on Sundays and solemnities |
| Weekday Cycle | Divided into two years, Year I and Year II |
| Weekday Readings | First reading may be from the Old or New Testament |
| Cycle Start | First Sunday of Advent |
| Cycle Duration | 3 years |
| Cycle Transition | Transition from one lectionary cycle to the next |
| Cycle Colours | White, Red |
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What You'll Learn
- The liturgical year is divided into seasons, each with its own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer
- The liturgical year begins with the Season of Advent
- The Gospels are organised into a three-year cycle, designated A, B, or C
- The liturgical year includes the Easter cycle and the Christmas cycle
- The liturgical year consists of a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle, called the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively
The liturgical year is divided into seasons, each with its own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer
The liturgical year is divided into seasons, each with its own distinct mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer. This cycle of seasons is designed to guide Catholics through the mystery of Christ, from his incarnation and birth to the ascension, Pentecost, and the expectation of His return.
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church begins with the Season of Advent, a time of preparation and anticipation leading up to Christmas. This is followed by the Christmas season, which commemorates the Nativity of Jesus Christ and his manifestation to the world. After Christmas comes Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany), a period that lasts until the beginning of Lent.
Lent is a season of preparation and penance, leading up to the celebration of Easter. The Season of Easter, or Eastertide, commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the central event of Christianity. The date of Easter varies according to the solar calendar, always falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.
Following Easter is another period of Ordinary Time (Time after Pentecost), which lasts until the First Sunday of Advent, marking the start of the next liturgical year. This season includes several special celebrations related to Jesus, Mary, and the saints. The liturgical year is thus a journey through the life of Christ, with each season offering opportunities for reflection, celebration, and spiritual growth.
The liturgical seasons are also marked by different traditions and practices, such as specific colours for altar linens and vestments, scriptural readings, and themes for preaching. These external signs help to create the unique mood and theological focus of each season, inviting Catholics to enter more fully into the mystery of Christ and his Church.
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The liturgical year begins with the Season of Advent
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church begins with the Season of 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 liturgical year for 2020.
Advent is a period of preparation for the coming of Christ, both the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas and, in the first weeks, the eschatological final coming of Christ. The season traditionally involves fasting and focuses on "devout and joyful expectation", often marked by the Advent Wreath, a garland of evergreens with four candles. The liturgical colours of Advent are purple and rose, with rose being used only on the third Sunday of Advent.
The Second Vatican Council brought renewed emphasis to Sunday as a unique liturgical category, with the Lord's Day deemed "the primordial holy day of obligation". This emphasis resulted in a three-year cycle of readings built around the three synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—to help Catholics become more familiar with the text of the Bible. The liturgical year is divided into a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle, called the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively.
The liturgical year unfolds within the cycle of a year, recalling the whole mystery of Christ, from the incarnation and birth to the ascension, the day of Pentecost, and the expectation of Christ's second coming. The liturgical calendar includes celebrations of the mystery of salvation and the saints, with feast days distinguished according to importance as a Solemnity, Feast, or Memorial.
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The Gospels are organised into a three-year cycle, designated A, B, or C
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church is a cycle of seasons, each with its own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer. The liturgical year does not correspond to the calendar year, but instead begins with the Season of Advent.
The three-year cycle works as follows: Year A follows the Gospel of Matthew, Year B follows the Gospel of Mark, and Year C follows the Gospel of Luke. Year B follows Year A, Year C follows Year B, and then the cycle starts again with Year A. For example, Year A ran from December 2016 to November 2017, Year B from December 2017 to November 2018, and Year C from December 2018 to November 2019. The Gospel of John is read throughout Easter and is also used for other liturgical seasons, including Advent, Christmas, and Lent where appropriate.
The liturgical year also includes a weekday cycle, which is divided into two years: Year I and Year II. Year I is read in odd-numbered years, and Year II is read in even-numbered years. The Gospels for both years are the same, and during the year, the Gospels are read semi-continuously, beginning with Mark, then moving on to Matthew and Luke. The Gospel of John is read during the Easter season.
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The liturgical year includes the Easter cycle and the Christmas cycle
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church is structured around the life of Christ, from "the incarnation and birth until the ascension, the day of Pentecost, and the expectation of blessed hope and of the coming of the Lord". The liturgical year is divided into seasons, each with its own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer. The liturgical year includes two central cycles: the Easter cycle and the Christmas cycle.
The Easter cycle begins with a season of preparation and anticipation during Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday. The Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Easter Triduum, which includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. The date of Easter is variable, falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The Season of Easter celebrates the "Paschal Mystery": the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The seven-week liturgical Eastertide immediately follows the Triduum, climaxing at Pentecost, which recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus' disciples after the Ascension of Jesus.
The Christmas cycle also begins with a season of preparation and anticipation during Advent, which starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The Christmas season lasts twelve days, from Christmas Day until 5 January, the day before the Epiphany. The Epiphany season includes the Epiphany, the First Sunday after the Epiphany, and the Second Sunday through the Last Sunday after the Epiphany.
The liturgical year also includes Ordinary Time, which is divided into two sections: one span of 4-8 weeks after Christmas Time and another lasting about six months after Easter Time. Ordinary Time includes the days between Christmastide and the start of Lent, as well as the period between Eastertide and the start of Advent. During Ordinary Time, the faithful consider the fullness of Jesus' teachings and works among his people.
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The liturgical year consists of a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle, called the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively
The liturgical year is organised into two main cycles: the Proper of Time, or the seasonal cycle, and the Proper of Saints, or the sanctoral cycle. These cycles are set out in a liturgical calendar, which is enriched by observances proper to local churches, whether national, diocesan, parish-level, or religious community.
The Proper of Time is made up of seasons, each with its own mood, theological emphases, and modes of prayer. The seasons in liturgical western Christianity are Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany), Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time (Time after Pentecost). The liturgical year begins with the Season of Advent, which starts on the First Sunday of Advent during the preceding calendar year. The scripture passages for each Sunday (and each day of the year in some traditions) are specified in a lectionary. The lectionary provides a scriptural structure for the patterns of the seasons, with readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Gospels. The Gospels are organised into a three-year cycle, designated A, B, or C, with each year focusing on one of the synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Gospel of John is read during the Easter season and for other liturgical seasons, including Advent, Christmas, and Lent, where appropriate. The weekday cycle is divided into two years, Year I and Year II, which alternate annually.
The Proper of Saints, or the sanctoral cycle, includes feast days dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, whose lives illustrate how to live the mystery of Christ. The feasts of the saints proclaim the wonderful works of Christ in his servants and offer examples for imitation. The General Roman Calendar includes the entire cycle of celebrations of the mystery of salvation in the Proper of Time, as well as the feasts of saints who have universal significance and are therefore celebrated by everyone, and other saints who demonstrate the universality and continuity of sainthood.
In addition to the Sunday and weekday cycles, the Lectionary provides readings for common celebrations such as Marian feasts, ritual Masses (weddings, funerals, etc.), votive Masses, and various needs. These readings are selected to reflect the themes of these celebrations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic liturgy is made up of the seasonal cycle and the sanctoral cycle, which are the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively. The third cycle is the Sunday and weekday cycle, which includes readings for feasts of the saints, common celebrations, ritual Masses, votive Masses, and various needs.
The seasonal cycle is the Proper of Time, which includes seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany), Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time (Time after Pentecost).
The sanctoral cycle is the Proper of Saints, which includes celebrations of the saints and feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Sunday and weekday cycle includes readings for Sundays and weekdays, with Years I and II alternating for the latter. The Gospels for both years are the same, and during the year, the Gospels are read semi-continuously, starting with Mark, then moving on to Matthew and Luke.
The liturgical year is structured by the Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar. It begins on the First Sunday of Advent and includes various seasons, feasts, and celebrations that commemorate the life of Christ and the saints.
