Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church has three liturgical years, Year A, Year B, and Year C, each starting with the first Sunday of Advent. These years correspond to the three synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, respectively. The liturgical years were established after the Second Vatican Council ordered a change in the Sunday Mass Readings, creating a three-year cycle to provide more variety and allow Catholics to familiarize themselves with the whole Bible. To determine the current liturgical year, one can add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three—if they are, then it is Year C.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Liturgical Years | 3 |
| Year A Gospel | St. Matthew |
| Year B Gospel | St. Mark |
| Year C Gospel | St. Luke |
| Gospel for Solemnities and Holy Week | St. John |
| Year Cycle Determination | Add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three. If yes, it is Year C. |
| Lectionary Cycle Transition | Starts with the first Sunday of Advent |
| First Part of Ordinary Time | After the Christmas season until Lent |
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What You'll Learn
The liturgical year begins in Advent
The liturgical year in Western Christianity begins with Advent, a season of preparation for the celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. The name Advent comes from the Latin "adventus", meaning "coming" or "arrival", translating the Greek "parousia" from the New Testament, originally referring to the Second Coming.
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, often referred to as Advent Sunday, which falls on or near November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve. The Sundays of this season are named the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Advent. The liturgical colour for Advent is purple, symbolising prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices, though the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, may be rose.
Advent is a time of waiting and preparation, with a focus on spiritual renewal and conversion. It is marked by various devotions and practices, including the Advent wreath, a garland of evergreens with four candles, and the Advent calendar, which helps count down the days until Christmas. The season is observed in most Christian denominations, though the specifics of its observance vary.
The liturgical year consists of a seasonal cycle and a sanctoral cycle, known as the Proper of Time and the Proper of Saints, respectively. It is governed by the Church and integrated into a liturgical calendar, with each week commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord and the Church celebrating the saving work of Christ on prescribed days throughout the year.
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Year A is dedicated to the Gospel of St. Matthew
In the Catholic Church, there are three Liturgical Years: Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each year is dedicated to a different Gospel, with Year A dedicated to the Gospel of St. Matthew. This Gospel is the first book of the New Testament of the Bible and is believed to have been written by Matthew, a companion of Jesus. It tells the story of Jesus, his resurrection, and his mission to the world, emphasising the importance of the Jewish tradition in a church that was becoming increasingly gentile.
The Gospel of St. Matthew is believed to have been published in Judea, in the Hebrew language, primarily for those among the Jews who believed in Jesus. It is positioned as the first of the four gospels in the New Testament, reflecting the esteem in which it was held by the church. It is the most frequently quoted in the non-canonical literature of earliest Christianity. The Gospel is structured with five blocks of narrative alternating with five blocks of discourse, each concluding with a similar formula.
The Liturgical Year in the Catholic Church begins with the first Sunday of Advent, marking the transition from one lectionary cycle (A, B, or C) to the next. These lectionary cycles were established after the Second Vatican Council ordered a change in the Sunday Mass Readings, creating a three-year cycle. This was done to provide Catholics with a more varied selection of readings from the Bible, putting more emphasis on the Word of God.
To determine which year in the cycle it is, one simple method is to add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three. If they are, then it is Year C, and the other years can be determined from there. For example, in the year 2019, 2 + 0 + 1 + 9 equals 12, which is divisible by 3, making it Year C. Therefore, the years before and after (2018 and 2020) would be Years B and A, respectively.
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Year B is dedicated to the Gospel of St. Mark
The Catholic Church has three Liturgical Years, namely Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each Liturgical Year starts with the first Sunday of Advent and marks the transition from one lectionary cycle (A, B, or C) to the next. These lectionary cycles were introduced after the Second Vatican Council ordered a change in the Sunday Mass Readings so that Catholics would become familiar with the whole Holy Bible. The current three-year cycle of Catholic Sunday Readings is built around the three synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The Gospel of Mark is dated to around 70 AD and was likely written in Rome for a gentile audience. Mark is the shortest Gospel, with the roughest grammar, like someone speaking on the street. Mark portrays Jesus as a man of action, moving from one healing to another, from one encounter to another. Mark skips the Lord’s birth, beginning with the Baptism, and rushes through his ministry until the Resurrection. Mark's Gospel is known for its urgency, with the word ""euthus" (meaning "immediately" or "straightway") appearing 41 times.
The liturgical year of 2020, which began in December 2019, was Year B in the Catholic Church.
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Year C is dedicated to the Gospel of St. Luke
The Catholic Church has three Liturgical Years, namely Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each Liturgical Year starts with the first Sunday of Advent, marking the transition from one lectionary cycle (A, B, or C) to the next. These lectionary cycles were introduced after the Second Vatican Council ordered a change in the Sunday Mass Readings. The aim was to ensure that Catholics would familiarize themselves with the entire Holy Bible. This resulted in the current three-year cycle of Catholic Sunday Readings, which are centred on the three synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The Gospel of Luke begins with a preface addressed to "Theophilus", which means "Lover of God". This preface communicates Luke's intention to lead his reader to certainty through a structured account of the events in Jesus' life. The narrative then opens in Galilee and gradually builds to its climax in Jerusalem. Luke presents a three-stage "salvation history", encompassing the Law and the prophets, the epoch of Jesus, and the period of the church.
Luke's Gospel emphasizes the mercy and compassion of Jesus, his concern for women, and the role of the Holy Spirit in his life and that of his disciples. It also highlights how Jesus identifies with the poor and lowly, the outcasts, sinners, and the afflicted. Additionally, Luke's interpretation of Jesus' teachings shifts the early Christian focus from the expectation of an imminent parousia to the practical concerns of the Christian community in their daily lives.
To determine the current Liturgical Year, one can use a simple method: add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three. If they are, then it is Year C. For example, for the year 2019, 2 + 0 + 1 + 9 equals 12, which is divisible by 3, indicating that 2019 was Year C.
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The liturgical year includes seasons like Christmas, Lent, and Easter
The liturgical year is governed by the Church and is integrated into a liturgical calendar. It includes seasons like Christmas, Lent, and Easter, and begins with Advent, which is a time of preparation for the Nativity of Christ and his expected second coming at the end of time. The Advent season lasts until Christmas Eve on December 24.
Christmas is a time when Christians recall the Nativity of Jesus Christ and his manifestation to the world. It is one of the two central poles of the Christian year, the other being the story of Christ's death and resurrection. The Christmas season is followed by Ordinary Time, which includes the days between Christmastide and the start of Lent.
Lent is a season of self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study, and preparation for Easter. It often lasts for forty days (excluding Sundays) and recalls the Biblical account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. It is a time of preparation for those who are to be baptised at Easter, and the whole Christian community is encouraged to join them in study and self-reflection.
Easter is a fifty-day celebration of the Lord's resurrection from the dead and his sending forth of the Holy Spirit. It marks the end of Christ's earthly ministry and the beginning of the Feast of the Ascension, which celebrates Christ's ascension to heaven.
The liturgical year is divided into three cycles, namely Year A, Year B, and Year C, each dedicated to a different Gospel. This three-year cycle was established to provide a varied selection of readings from the Bible and put more emphasis on the Word of God.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church has three liturgical years: Year A, Year B, and Year C.
In Year A, the Sunday Gospel Readings are from the Gospel of Matthew. In Year B, they are from the Gospel of Mark. In Year C, they are from the Gospel of Luke.
The liturgical year begins in Advent. To determine which year it is, add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three. If they are, it is Year C.
Prior to the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church had a yearly cycle of readings that didn't change. The Church decided to provide a more varied selection of readings, creating a three-year cycle to emphasise the Word of God and open up the Bible to the lay faithful.
