Michael Brooks
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church is organized into a seasonal cycle (Proper of Time) and a sanctoral cycle (Proper of Saints), and is governed by the Church. It begins on the First Sunday of Advent, which falls in the preceding calendar year. The liturgical year is integrated into a liturgical calendar, which includes prescribed days for the celebration of the saving work of Christ, the birthdays of saints, and other events from Christ's life. The Second Vatican Council emphasized the importance of Sunday as a unique liturgical category, and established a three-year cycle of Sunday readings at Mass, categorized as Years A, B, and C. To determine which year we are in for the Sunday readings, a simple calculation can be performed by adding the digits of the calendar year and checking if they are divisible by three; if they are, then it is Year C.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cycle | Three-year cycle |
| Liturgical year | Begins in Advent |
| Year C | When the digits of the calendar year are divisible by three |
| Lord's Day | Sunday |
| Easter | Celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox |
| Easter Octave | Eight days of intensive celebration from Easter Sunday to the second Sunday of Easter |
| Easter Season | Celebrated for 50 days up to and including the Feast of Pentecost |
| Ascension of the Lord | Traditionally celebrated on the 40th day of Easter; now often moved to the following Sunday |
| Pentecost Sunday | Seven weeks or 50 days after Easter |
| Season of Ordinary Time | Two sections: one lasting 4-8 weeks after Christmas Time, and another lasting about six months after Easter Time |
| Ash Wednesday | A day of fasting and abstinence |
| Palm Sunday | The Sunday before Easter |
| Holy Week | The week before Easter, beginning on Palm Sunday |
| Advent | Scripture Readings and Liturgical Prayers are different for the three parts of Advent |
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What You'll Learn
- The liturgical year is governed by the Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar
- The liturgical year consists of a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle
- The liturgical year begins during Advent
- The liturgical year includes Ordinary Time, which is divided into two sections
- To determine if it's Year C, check if the digits of the calendar year are divisible by three
The liturgical year is governed by the Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar
The liturgical year is governed by the Catholic Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar. It is characterized by alternating fasts and feasts and is divided into eight seasons of approximately seven weeks each, adjusted to fit the solar calendar. The liturgical year begins with the First Sunday of Advent during the preceding calendar year. For example, the First Sunday of Advent in 2019 marked the beginning of the 2020 liturgical 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 Proper of Time includes both the entire cycle of celebrations of the mystery of salvation and that of the saints who hold universal significance and are therefore celebrated by everyone. The Proper of Saints, on the other hand, includes the celebrations of other saints who demonstrate the universality and continuity of sainthood within the People of God.
The seasons of the liturgical year include Ordinary Time, which is divided into two sections: one lasting between four and eight weeks after Christmas, and the other lasting about six months after Easter. During Ordinary Time, the faithful reflect on the teachings and works of Jesus. The liturgical year also includes special seasons such as Advent, Christmas, and Lent, each with its unique focus and liturgical practices.
The liturgical year is further enriched by observances specific to local Churches, whether national, diocesan, parish-level, or religious community. These observances may include additional days of prayer and special observances promoted by the Holy See or specific Church organizations.
Finally, the liturgical year is also governed by the computation of movable feast days, such as Easter, which is calculated according to a lunar calendar based on the Julian Calendar. The liturgical year thus integrates both the solar and lunar calendars to determine the timing of various celebrations and observances.
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The liturgical year consists of a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle
The liturgical year is divided into a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle, also known as the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively. The liturgical year is governed by the Church and is integrated into a liturgical calendar. The calendar highlights the profound meaning of the liturgical celebrations of the Church and their organisation. The Second Vatican Council emphasised the importance of Sunday as a unique liturgical category, referring to it as "the Lord's day".
The Proper of Time, or the seasonal cycle, is based on seven central events and celebrations of Salvation History. 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 during Advent, so the First Sunday of Advent in 2019 marked the start of the 2020 liturgical year. The Proper of Time is also referred to as the "cycle of moveable feasts", as the date of Pascha determines the beginning of Great Lent and Pentecost, and affects the cycle of scriptural readings and the Octoechos throughout the year.
The Proper of Saints, or the sanctoral cycle, celebrates the birthdays of the Saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The saints' feasts proclaim the wonderful works of Christ in his servants and offer examples for the faithful to follow. The celebration of saints is in harmony with the mystery of Christ, and the Blessed Virgin Mary is joined by an inseparable bond to the saving work of her Son.
The liturgical year is summarised in the lectionary, which is a cycle of readings. Over a three-year cycle, the lectionary covers nearly the entire New Testament and significant portions of the Old Testament. To determine whether it is Year A, B, or C, simply add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three. If they are, then it is Year C.
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The liturgical year begins during Advent
The liturgical year in the Roman Rite begins with Advent, which starts on the First Sunday of Advent during the preceding calendar year. For example, the First Sunday of Advent in 2019 marked the beginning of the 2020 liturgical year.
Advent is a season of preparation for both the nativity of Christ and his expected second coming at the end of time. It includes four Sundays and their preceding weekdays, leading up to Christmas Eve on December 24. The liturgical colour for Advent is violet or purple, with the purple candles of the Advent wreath symbolizing prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and good works undertaken during this time. The third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, may be celebrated with the liturgical colour rose instead of purple.
The liturgical year consists of a seasonal cycle, the Proper of Time, and a sanctoral cycle, the Proper of Saints. Both are organized and published in a liturgical calendar, which is also enriched by observances proper to local Churches, whether national, diocesan, parish-level, or religious community. The liturgical year unfolds the entire mystery of Christ and observes the birthdays of the Saints.
The Second Vatican Council brought renewed emphasis to Sunday as a unique liturgical category, with the Lord's Day being observed as a holy day of obligation in the universal Church. Sundays and Solemnities begin their celebration on the evening before, while Feasts and Memorials are celebrated over the course of one day. Saints and other celebrations are distinguished in accordance with their assigned importance, with Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials being celebrated accordingly.
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The liturgical year includes Ordinary Time, which is divided into two sections
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church is based on the cycle of the Roman Rite. It includes Ordinary Time, which is divided into two sections. Ordinary Time is the period between Christmastide and Lent, and between Eastertide and Advent. The liturgical colour assigned to Ordinary Time is green.
The first section of Ordinary Time begins on the Monday following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is the last day of Christmas Time. This period lasts until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. The number of weeks in this first section varies between three and eight, depending on when Easter falls.
The second section of Ordinary Time begins on the Monday after Pentecost and lasts for about six months, until the start of Advent. This period includes the remaining weeks of the liturgical year, ranging from 25 to 31, depending on the configuration of the calendar year.
Ordinary Time is a period when the faithful consider the fullness of Jesus' teachings and works among his people. It is a time to reflect on the mystery of Christ and how it can be lived out in our own lives, as exemplified by the lives of Mary and the saints, who are celebrated by the Church throughout the year.
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church is organised by the Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar. This calendar includes both the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, with the former encompassing the seasonal cycle and the latter the sanctoral cycle. The liturgical calendar is also enriched by observances specific to local Churches, whether national, diocesan, parish-level, or religious community.
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To determine if it's Year C, check if the digits of the calendar year are divisible by three
The Catholic Church follows a three-year cycle of Sunday readings at Mass. This cycle is an integral part of the liturgical year, which begins on the First Sunday of Advent. The liturgical year is governed by the Church and is integrated into a liturgical calendar.
The three-year cycle was established by the Church to provide a varied selection of readings from the Bible, emphasising the Word of God and enriching the understanding of the Bible for the lay faithful. This cycle is known as the lectionary cycle and is divided into Year A, Year B, and Year C.
To determine if it is Year C, one must check if the digits of the calendar year are divisible by three. For example, to determine the year for 2023, one would add 2+0+2+3, which equals 7. Since 7 is not divisible by three, 2023 is not Year C.
On the other hand, 2024 would be Year C because the sum of its digits, 2+0+2+4, is 8, which is divisible by three. Therefore, by following this simple method of adding the digits of the calendar year and checking their divisibility by three, one can determine if it is Year C in the Catholic liturgical cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church follows a three-year cycle of Sunday readings at Mass. The Year A, B, and C cycles refer to the three different years in this cycle.
The liturgical year begins in Advent. For instance, the 2020 liturgical year started in December 2019. You can refer to the USCCB liturgical calendar to know which year we are in for the Sunday readings.
To know if it is Year A, B, or C, add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three. If it is divisible by three, then it is "Year C".
Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church had a yearly cycle of readings that didn't change annually. The Church introduced a three-year cycle to provide a more varied selection of readings from the Bible and put more emphasis on the Word of God.
