Grace Thompson
The Catholic liturgical calendar is a journey of personal conversion, with each Sunday of the year tied to a range of dates, excluding the seasons of Lent and Easter. The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, with each Sunday a holy day of obligation. The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green, symbolizing the growth and expansion of the Church following the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Ordinary Time is a period of conversion, during which the mystery of Christ is reflected upon and integrated into history. The Second Vatican Council emphasized Sunday as a unique liturgical category, with the Lord's Day being the original feast day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Liturgical year begins | First Sunday of Advent |
| Liturgical year ends | Solemnity of Christ the King |
| Liturgical color for Ordinary Time | Green |
| Memorials | Obligatory or Optional |
| Holy days of obligation | Days when the faithful are obliged to participate at Mass and abstain from unnecessary work |
| Solemnities | Feast of Corpus Christi, Feast of the Holy Trinity, Feast of St. Joseph |
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What You'll Learn
The liturgical year
The scripture readings and liturgical prayers vary according to the different seasons and feasts in the liturgical calendar. For example, during Advent, the focus is on Eschatology and Messianic expectations, with teachings about the end times and prophecies from Isaiah. In the Middle East, the Syriac rite of the Catholic Church maintains a liturgical calendar that is divided into nine seasons, starting from Subara and ending with Qudas Edta.
Holy Days: Catholic Observances and Their Significance
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The liturgical calendar
The liturgical year is divided into eight seasons of approximately seven weeks each, adjusted to fit the solar calendar. The seasons in Western Christianity are generally recognised as Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany), Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time (Time after Pentecost). Each cycle includes a festival season, preceded by a season of preparation. For example, Easter, the most important feast day in the Eastern Orthodox Church, is preceded by Lent, a period of abstinence and preparation for Christmas.
The Holy Spirit: A Person or a Force?
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Ordinary Time
In the Catholic liturgical calendar, Ordinary Time refers to the 33 or 34 weeks that fall outside the two great seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, or their respective preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. Ordinary Time thus includes the days between Christmastide and Lent, and between Eastertide and Advent. The liturgical colour assigned to Ordinary Time is green.
The word "ordinary" does not refer to a season of dull routine but rather the listing of ordinal or sequential numbers. This is reflected in the naming of the Sundays in Ordinary Time, such as the "Second Sunday in Ordinary Time" or the "Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time". The lowest-numbered Sunday is typically the Second Sunday, as the First Sunday is replaced by the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The celebration of an Ordinary Time weekday gives way to any solemnity, feast, or obligatory memorial that falls on the same day. For example, the Monday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time is also the Opt Mem of St. Louis of France and St. Joseph Calasanz, Priest. Ordinary Time may be interrupted by other celebrations, such as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on 2 February or the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity on the Sunday after Pentecost.
Ash Wednesday: Catholic Obligation and Its Significance
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Holy Days of Obligation
The following feast days are holy days of obligation in the U.S. for 2025: January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God; May 29th, the Solemnity of the Ascension; August 15th, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; and December 25th, the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas). In addition, the Epiphany is always celebrated on a Sunday in the U.S.
The obligation to attend Mass on a holy day can be abrogated or lifted under certain circumstances. For example, if a holy day falls on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is usually canceled. This was the case with the Solemnity of All Saints in 2025, which fell on a Saturday. Additionally, Catholics may be dispensed from their obligation for a just cause, such as physical illness or being the only caregiver for someone who is homebound.
Christians and Catholics: What's the Difference?
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The Gospels
During the Eucharistic Liturgy, the priest narrates the words of Jesus during the Last Supper with his disciples: "This is my Body… This is my Blood…". These words, found in the Gospel accounts, are at the core of the Eucharistic Prayer. Through this prayer, Catholics remember and proclaim their belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, where the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.
The Catholic Religion: Its Historical Origins
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Frequently asked questions
The liturgical year is a cycle of the year that calls on Christians to live the mystery of Christ in their own lives. Each liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent. The liturgical year is governed by the Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar.
The Second Vatican Council emphasised the importance of Sundays as a unique liturgical category. Sundays are considered "the primordial holy day of obligation", and are therefore observed as such in the universal Church.
Ordinary Time is a liturgical season that typically contains about 33 or 34 weeks. It is represented by the colour green, symbolising growth and new life. Ordinary Time takes us through the life of Christ, and is a time of conversion and growth.
