Rachel Evans
In the Catholic Church, Sunday is considered a unique liturgical category, with each Sunday being a holy day of obligation. The liturgical calendar is divided into different seasons, with Ordinary Time falling outside the two great seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, or their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. Ordinary Time is further divided into two sections, with the first part beginning after the feast of the Epiphany and ending on Shrove Tuesday, and the second part starting the Monday after Pentecost and lasting until the First Sunday of Advent. During Ordinary Time, Catholics are called to actively participate in the everyday life of Jesus, reflecting on his teachings and works. The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent of the preceding calendar year, with the last Sunday of Ordinary Time being the Solemnity of Christ the King.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Solemnities observed as feasts of precept in the United States | 6 |
| First day of Ordinary Time | Monday |
| Liturgical color assigned to Ordinary Time | Green |
| Number of weeks in Ordinary Time | 33 or 34 |
| Last Sunday of Ordinary Time | Solemnity of Christ the King |
| Other names for Ordinary Time | Epiphanytide, Trinitytide |
| Days when the faithful are obliged to participate at Mass | Holy days of obligation |
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What You'll Learn
Ordinary Time
In the Catholic liturgical calendar, 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. Ordinary Time includes the days between Christmastide and Lent, and between Eastertide and Advent. The liturgical colour assigned to Ordinary Time is green, representing the time of growth and expansion of the Church following the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The Sundays and weeks of Ordinary Time take us through the life of Christ. The celebration of an Ordinary Time weekday gives way to that of any solemnity, feast, or obligatory memorial that falls on the same day, and may optionally be replaced by that of a non-obligatory memorial or of any saint mentioned in the Roman Martyrology for that day. The two Sundays following Pentecost are the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, which despite being part of Ordinary Time, are not numbered. The last Sunday of Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of Christ the King, also known as the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
As an example of Ordinary Time, on 25 August 2025, the liturgical calendar noted the day as Monday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time, with an optional memorial of St. Joseph Calasanz.
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Solemnities
The solemnities of the Nativity of the Lord, the Epiphany, the Ascension, and Pentecost are outranked only by the Paschal Triduum. Other solemnities inscribed in the General Roman Calendar include the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Gloria is said or sung on the day of a solemnity, except on Good Friday, which is the second day of the Paschal Triduum. Additionally, the Creed is recited at Mass, and there are two scriptural readings instead of one.
In the United States, six solemnities are observed as feasts of precept, or holy days of obligation. These include Mary, Mother of God (January 1st); Epiphany (the first Sunday after January 1st); and Ascension, which is celebrated on different days depending on the ecclesiastical province.
The Second Vatican Council emphasized the importance of Sunday as a unique liturgical category, stating that it "must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation". As a result, only a limited number of feasts of the Lord or the saints may take the place of the scheduled Sunday celebration.
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Feasts
The Catholic Church celebrates various feasts throughout the liturgical year. The liturgical calendar is organized into different seasons, with each season having its own unique focus and significance. Ordinary Time, for instance, is a period of about 33 to 34 weeks that falls outside the major seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, as well as their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. Ordinary Time is represented by the color green, symbolizing growth and new life. It is a time for spiritual growth and maturation, where Catholics are called to live the life of Christ and reflect on his teachings.
The feast days celebrated during Ordinary Time can vary, but some notable ones include the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity on the Sunday after Pentecost, and the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist on June 24th. These feasts are ranked higher than Sundays during Ordinary Time and are thus given priority in the liturgical calendar.
In addition to Ordinary Time, there are other liturgical seasons with their own unique feasts. The season of Advent, for example, is a time of preparation and anticipation leading up to Christmas. It begins the liturgical year and culminates in the celebration of Christ's birth. While Advent has its own special character, it can also include feasts of saints who have universal significance or demonstrate the continuity of sainthood.
The Christmas season, also known as Christmastide, highlights the central mysteries of the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is a joyous time of celebration and reflection on the birth of Jesus. The exact duration of Christmastide can vary, but it typically includes the days between Christmas and the feast of the Epiphany on January 6th.
Eastertide, or the Easter season, commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is the most important liturgical season in the Catholic Church, and its feasts are considered to be of the highest rank. The Easter season lasts for about fifty days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.
Finally, there are also Solemnities and Feasts of Precept that are observed as holy days of obligation. These are days when Catholics are obliged to participate in Mass and refrain from unnecessary work. Examples include the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29th and All Saints' Day on November 1st.
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Memorials
> O God, who adorned the Priest Saint Joseph Calasanz with such charity and patience that he labored tirelessly to educate children and endow them with every virtue, grant, we pray, that we, who venerate him as a teacher of wisdom, may constantly imitate him, for he was a co-worker of your truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
The liturgical calendar organises the celebrations of the Catholic Church throughout the year. Ordinary Time, which includes the days between Christmastide and Lent, and Eastertide and Advent, is divided into two sections. The first section falls between the feast of the Epiphany and Shrove Tuesday, while the second section begins on the Monday after Pentecost and continues until the First Sunday of Advent. Ordinary Time is represented by the colour green, symbolising growth and new life. It is a time for Catholics to reflect on the everyday life of Jesus and participate in it, examining their habits and cultivating gratitude.
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Saints
The Catholic Church celebrates the feast days of saints throughout the liturgical year. The liturgical calendar is divided into two main sections: Christmastide and Eastertide, along with their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, which falls on a different date each calendar year. The liturgical calendar includes the celebration of saints who have universal significance and are thus celebrated by all, as well as saints who demonstrate the universality and continuity of sainthood within the Catholic Church.
The Second Vatican Council emphasised the importance of Sunday as a unique liturgical category, stating that it "must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation". Sundays are considered holy days of obligation, and only a limited number of feasts of the Lord or the saints may take the place of the scheduled Sunday celebration. Saints and other celebrations are distinguished based on their importance, with each celebration falling under the category of Solemnity, Feast, or Memorial. Sundays and Solemnities begin their celebration on the evening before, while Feasts and Memorials are celebrated over one day. Memorials are further classified as Obligatory or Optional.
The liturgical colour assigned to Ordinary Time, which falls outside the seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, is green, symbolising growth and new life. Ordinary Time includes the days between Christmastide and Lent, and Eastertide and Advent. This period is dedicated to reflecting on the life of Christ and his teachings. The celebration of Ordinary Time gives way to any solemnity, feast, or obligatory memorial that occurs on the same day and may be replaced by a non-obligatory memorial or the feast day of a saint mentioned in the Roman Martyrology.
The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist on 24 June, honouring the birth of Saint John the Baptist. Additionally, the Church observes the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, commemorating the martyrdom of these two important saints. The Church also celebrates All Saints' Day on November 1, honouring all the saints, known and unknown. These solemnities provide an opportunity for Catholics to reflect on the lives and contributions of these saints and to seek their intercession.
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Frequently asked questions
Ordinary Time is a liturgical season in the Catholic Church that falls outside the two great seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, or their preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. Ordinary Time is divided into two sections, one lasting 4-8 weeks after Christmas, and another lasting about six months after Easter. Ordinary Time is represented by the colour green, symbolising growth and new life.
Ordinary Time usually consists of 33 or 34 weeks, depending on when the First Sunday of Advent falls. If the First Sunday of Advent is in November, then there are 33 weeks of Ordinary Time. If it falls on December 2 or 3, there are 34 weeks. However, if the First Sunday of Advent falls on December 1, there will only be 34 weeks in a leap year.
Sundays and Solemnities are celebrated over two days, beginning on the evening of the first day. Feasts and Memorials are celebrated over one day. Memorials are further distinguished as either Obligatory or Optional.
The Second Vatican Council emphasised the importance of Sunday as a unique liturgical category, stating that it "must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation". Sundays are considered holy days of obligation, where the faithful are obliged to participate in Mass and abstain from unnecessary work.
Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation, where Catholics are called to live the life of Christ and reflect on his teachings. To participate in Ordinary Time, Catholics can engage in practices such as reading the daily Gospel, expressing gratitude, and imagining Jesus in everyday situations.
