Michael Brooks
Easter is a festal season in the liturgical year of Christianity that focuses on celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church celebrates Easter as the Lord's resurrection from the dead, culminating in his Ascension to Heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The Easter season lasts 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, and is celebrated as a single joyful feast, called the great Lord's Day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Duration | 50 days |
| Start date | Easter Sunday |
| End date | Pentecost |
| Other names | Eastertide, Eastertime, Paschaltide, Paschaltime, Paschal season, Season of Resurrection |
| Octave of Easter | Eight days from the first to the second Sunday of Easter |
| Second Sunday of Easter | Divine Mercy Sunday |
| Date of Easter in 2024 | April 9 |
| End date of Easter in 2024 | May 28 |
| Date of Easter in 2025 | April 20 |
| End date of Easter in 2025 | June 8 |
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The Easter Octave
The octave is celebrated with daily Mass, and the Lutheran Missal states that it "forms a cohesive thematic unit with the two following weeks." The Mass also has a special Communicantes ("In communion...") inserted every day when the Roman Canon or First Eucharistic Prayer is prayed. There is also a special Hanc Igitur ("Therefore, Lord, we pray...") during the Eucharistic Prayer.
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Ascension of Christ
The Catholic Easter season lasts 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost. Pentecost, derived from the Greek word "pentecoste", meaning "50th", marks the end of the Easter celebrations.
The Ascension of Christ is a key event in the Christian faith and is observed during the Easter season. It refers to the belief that Jesus ascended to Heaven after his resurrection. This event is described in the Bible, specifically in the first chapter of Acts, and in Luke's Gospel. The Ascension signifies Jesus' entry into the realm of God and his exaltation as Lord and Christ, sitting at the right hand of God. It is a discrete element in the career of Christ, marking his departure from earthly interactions with his disciples.
The Ascension is described as occurring 40 days after the Resurrection, in the presence of his disciples. Jesus instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit. As Jesus ascended, a cloud obscured him from their view, and two men in white appeared, proclaiming that Jesus would return. The disciples then went out to preach, and Jesus continued to work with them, confirming his words with signs and miracles.
The Feast of the Ascension, also known as Ascension Day, is a significant feast day in the Christian liturgical year. It is traditionally celebrated on the sixth Thursday after Easter Sunday, 40 days after Easter. Some Catholic provinces observe it on the following Sunday to facilitate Mass attendance. The feast includes a procession of torches and banners, symbolising Christ's journey to the Mount of Olives and his ascension into Heaven. The Paschal candle is extinguished during the feast, and an all-night vigil is held.
The Ascension is an important article of faith in Christianity, though direct accounts of it are found only in Luke and Acts. Other New Testament writings imply a connection between the resurrection and exaltation as a single event. The Ascension has been interpreted in various ways, with some theologians viewing it as a "puzzle" or an "embarrassment" in the modern age, while others focus on its symbolic significance, representing Jesus' deification and the union between his followers and him.
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Pentecost
The Catholic Easter season ends on the 50th day after Easter Sunday, which is known as Pentecost. Pentecost is derived from the Greek word "pentecoste", meaning "50th". It is also a word that was used in Judaism during the time of Jesus to refer to the harvest festival Shavuot, which falls 50 days after Passover.
The Holy Spirit also bestowed upon the Apostles the fruits and gifts necessary to carry out the great commission of preaching the Gospel to all nations. This included the gifts of charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.
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Easter Vigil
The Catholic Easter season lasts for 50 days, from Easter Sunday to the feast of Pentecost. The Easter Vigil is held at the beginning of this period, on Holy Saturday, and is the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day, and is the first celebration of Easter.
The Easter Vigil is a liturgy filled with powerful symbolism. It is characterised by darkness, fire, water, oil, and more. It is during this liturgy that people are baptised and that adult catechumens are received into full communion with the Church. The Easter Vigil is also when the Church grows, as catechumens can receive the Catholic sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion on the same night.
The Easter Vigil is the most important liturgy of public worship and Mass of the liturgical year. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but attendance satisfies the obligation to attend Mass on Easter Sunday. The Vigil usually runs for 2.5 to 3 hours and is made up of four parts: the Service of Light, the Service of the Word, the Service of Baptism, and the Service of Communion.
The Easter Vigil is also known as the Paschal Vigil, the Great Vigil of Easter, or the "Mother of All Vigils". The latter name comes from the Missale Romanum, which states that the Vigil is the "greatest and most noble of all solemnities".
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Easter Sunday
The date of Easter Sunday is movable, always falling on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. In the Roman Catholic Church, it always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. In 2025, Easter Sunday will be on April 20.
The Easter Vigil is held on the Saturday before Easter Sunday, and many Catholics attend midnight Mass. The Easter Vigil is an ancient liturgy involving symbols of light, candles, and water, with numerous readings from the Old and New Testaments. Attending the Easter Vigil satisfies the Sunday obligation to attend Mass, and the services during the daytime on Easter Sunday are shorter and well attended.
The Easter season lasts for 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, and includes the solemnity of the Ascension of Christ, which falls on the 40th day of Easter. During the Easter season, the Paschal Candle, a symbol of the presence of the Risen Christ, remains in the sanctuary near the Altar or Ambo until Pentecost Sunday.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Easter season lasts 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.
The Catholic Easter season in 2024 ends on May 28.
The Catholic Easter season in 2025 ends on June 8.
The Catholic Easter season is about celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, his Ascension to the Father, and the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Church on Pentecost.
