Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church follows a liturgical calendar that dictates the daily prayers, scripture readings, and events for the entire year. The liturgical year consists of a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle, known as the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively. The liturgical calendar is based on the General Roman Calendar, which was promulgated by Pope Saint Paul VI in 1969. It has since been amended by the Holy See and the Proper Calendar for the Dioceses of the United States of America, which was approved by the USCCB and confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2010. The liturgical calendar is used to guide the faithful in their observance of holy days, feasts, and memorials, as well as to commemorate the Resurrection of the Lord and the mystery of Christ.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Liturgical calendar | The General Roman Calendar, amended by the Holy See |
| Liturgical year | Consists of a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle |
| Seasonal cycle | The Proper of Time |
| Sanctoral cycle | The Proper of Saints |
| Liturgical celebrations | The saving work of Christ, the Resurrection of the Lord, the mystery of Christ, the birthdays of the Saints |
| Holy days | Sundays, Solemnities, Feasts, Memorials, and Obligatory or Optional days |
| Sunday | The Lord's Day, a unique liturgical category and primordial holy day of obligation |
| Feast days | May take the place of the scheduled Sunday celebration, but only a limited number |
| Saints | Distinguished by importance as a Solemnity, Feast, or Memorial |
| Readings | Mass readings, liturgical readings |
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What You'll Learn
- The liturgical year consists of two cycles: the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints
- The liturgical calendar includes seasons, mass readings, and feasts
- The Lord's Day is the original feast day
- The liturgical calendar is based on the General Roman Calendar
- The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent
The liturgical year consists of two cycles: the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church is an annual cycle of celebrations of key moments in the life of Christ and the saints. The liturgical year consists of two cycles: the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints.
The Proper of Time, or Temporale, revolves around the movable date of Easter and the fixed date of Christmas. It includes the festival seasons of Easter and Christmas, each preceded by a season of preparation and anticipation (Lent and Advent). The date of Easter, or Pascha, is central to the ecclesiastical year, determining the date for the beginning of Great Lent and Pentecost, and affecting the cycle of moveable feasts, scriptural readings, and the Octoechos (texts chanted according to the eight ecclesiastical modes). The period of the Triodion includes the Sundays before Great Lent, Cheesefare Week, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week. The period of the Pentecostarion includes the Sunday of Pascha through the Sunday after Pentecost, also known as the Sunday of All Saints.
The Proper of Saints, or Sanctorale, includes other commemorations on fixed dates throughout the year, celebrating the birthdays of the saints. Saints' days are distinguished in accordance with their importance as a Solemnity, Feast, or Memorial. The Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated alongside the saints, and her bond with her Son's saving work is emphasised. The feasts of the saints proclaim the works of Christ in his servants and offer examples for the faithful to follow.
The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent in the preceding calendar year. For example, the First Sunday of Advent in 2019 began the 2020 liturgical year. The liturgical calendar is organised by the Church and is enriched by observances proper to local Churches, whether national, diocesan, or religious community.
The Second Vatican Council brought renewed emphasis to Sunday as a unique liturgical category, with the Lord's Day being the original feast day and a holy day of obligation. The Council also summarised the meaning of the liturgical celebrations of the Church: "Holy Church celebrates the saving work of Christ on prescribed days in the course of the year with sacred remembrance."
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The liturgical calendar includes seasons, mass readings, and feasts
The liturgical calendar is a Christian calendar that outlines the Church's year. It is made up of seasons, mass readings, and feasts, which together guide the liturgical celebrations of the Church. The liturgical year consists of two cycles: the Proper of Time, and the Proper of Saints. The Proper of Time is the seasonal cycle, and the Proper of Saints is the sanctoral cycle.
The seasons of the liturgical year are marked by different moods, theological emphases, and modes of prayer. These seasons can be signalled by different ways of decorating churches, colours of paraments and vestments for clergy, scriptural readings, themes for preaching, and traditions and practices observed at home or in the community. The liturgical year begins with the Season of Advent, which starts on the First Sunday of Advent in the preceding calendar year. For example, the First Sunday of Advent in 2019 began the 2020 liturgical year.
The mass readings are an important part of the liturgical calendar. Each celebration of Mass is accompanied by readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Gospels. The Gospels are organized into a three-year cycle, designated as years A, B, and C. Year A follows year C, and year B falls between years A and C. The Gospel of John is read throughout Easter and is also used for other liturgical seasons, including Advent, Christmas, and Lent.
The liturgical calendar also includes feasts, which are days set aside to commemorate events in the life of Christ and celebrate saints. The feasts of the saints proclaim the wonderful works of Christ in his servants and offer examples for the faithful to follow. The Second Vatican Council emphasized that only a limited number of feasts of the Lord or the saints may take the place of a scheduled Sunday celebration. Sundays and solemnities begin their celebration on the evening before, while feasts and memorials are celebrated over one day. Memorials can be obligatory or optional. Holy days of obligation are days when the faithful must participate in Mass and abstain from unnecessary work.
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The Lord's Day is the original feast day
The Catholic Church celebrates the "Lord's Day" every Sunday, commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord. The Second Vatican Council affirmed that "the Lord's day is the original feast day", and it is considered the "primordial holy day of obligation". This means that, barring exceptional circumstances, Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and abstain from work or other activities.
The "Lord's Day" is distinct from the Sabbath, which is observed on Saturday. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that "Sunday is expressly distinguished from the Sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath". The Council of Jerusalem, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, exempted non-Jews from observing the Sabbath, allowing them to worship on Sundays instead. This tradition dates back to the first century, as evidenced by the writings of St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of the apostle John, who urged Christians to "keep the Lord's Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days".
The choice of Sunday as the "Lord's Day" is rooted in the belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day after the Sabbath. While the origin of Sunday worship is debated, it was likely established in the mid-1st century, with some arguing for a Judean origin during the period of the Acts of the Apostles. By the 2nd century, Sunday worship had become widespread among Christians.
The "Lord's Day" is marked by special liturgical practices and Bible readings that differ from those of weekdays. In Orthodox Churches, for instance, Sunday is amplified with unique hymns that are chanted only on that day. The "Lord's Day" is also a time for works of piety and charity, peaceful relaxation, and the union of family life.
In summary, the "Lord's Day" is the original feast day in the Catholic liturgical year, commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus and taking precedence over other celebrations. It is observed on Sundays, replacing the Sabbath as a day of worship, fellowship, and devotion to the Eucharist and prayer.
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The liturgical calendar is based on the General Roman Calendar
The liturgical calendar is a framework for the Catholic Church's liturgical celebrations and their organisation. It is based on the General Roman Calendar, which includes the entire cycle of celebrations of the mystery of salvation and the birthdays of the saints. The liturgical year consists of two cycles: the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints. The Proper of Time is the seasonal cycle, which includes seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, and Easter. Ordinary Time is further divided into two sections: one lasting 4-8 weeks after Christmas, and another lasting about six months after Easter. The Proper of Saints, on the other hand, is the sanctoral cycle, during which the Church celebrates the birthdays of the saints.
The liturgical calendar is enriched by observances specific to local churches, whether national or diocesan. For example, the Church of England, the mother church of the Anglican Communion, follows a liturgical year that is almost identical to the 1969 Catholic Common Lectionary. However, it does not include Ordinary Time. Instead, it observes an Epiphany season after Christmas, which begins on the Eve of the Epiphany and ends on the Feast of the Presentation.
The liturgical calendar also outlines the liturgical colours to be used during different seasons and feasts. For instance, the colour for Laetare Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Lent) is violet or purple, while red has been used for Palm Sunday since 1970.
The liturgical calendar is subject to revisions and amendments. The last major revision was in 2002, and since then, new celebrations have been added to the General Roman Calendar, such as the Optional Memorial of Saint Gregory of Narek on February 27 and the Optional Memorial of Saint John De Avila on May 10. These revisions and additions ensure that the liturgical calendar remains relevant and up-to-date for the Catholic Church and its members worldwide.
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The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church is structured around the life of Christ, from his birth to his ascension, and the expectation of his second coming. The year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, which falls on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, usually the Sunday nearest November 30.
Advent marks the start of the liturgical year and is a time of preparation and expectation for the celebration of the Nativity. It is a period of devout and joyful anticipation, often marked by the Advent wreath, a garland of evergreens with four candles, each representing 'hope', 'faith', 'joy', and 'love'. The liturgical colour of Advent is violet or purple, although some traditions, such as Anglican, Episcopalian, Methodist, and Lutheran, use blue.
The liturgical year is organised into a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle, known as the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively. The seasonal cycle includes major seasons like Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, each with its liturgical colours and themes. The sanctoral cycle, or Proper of Saints, involves celebrating the birthdays and feast days of the saints throughout the year.
The Second Vatican Council emphasised the importance of Sunday as a unique liturgical category, referring to it as "the Lord's day" and designating it as a holy day of obligation. This means that Sundays are reserved for the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord and only a limited number of feasts or saints' days can take precedence over this.
The liturgical year is governed by the Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar, which provides structure and meaning to the Church's celebrations and observances throughout the year.
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Frequently asked questions
The liturgical week in the Catholic faith is a celebration of the sacred remembrance of Christ's saving work. Each week, on the Lord's Day, the Church commemorates the Resurrection of the Lord.
The liturgical year consists of a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle. The seasonal cycle is known as the Proper of Time, and the sanctoral cycle is the Proper of Saints. The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, which falls in the preceding calendar year. For example, the First Sunday of Advent in 2019 began the 2020 liturgical year.
The Lord's Day, or Sunday, is the original feast day and is considered the primordial holy day of obligation.
The liturgical calendar is based on the General Roman Calendar, promulgated by Pope Saint Paul VI on February 14, 1969. It has since been amended by the Holy See and the Proper Calendar for the Dioceses of the United States of America.
