The practice of the liturgical season of Advent goes all the way back to the fourth century. The Advent wreath is rich in symbolism: The priest (we) light the candles to ward off the gloom of winter and to proclaim our hope in the Savior's coming. The evergreen boughs used to decorate it symbolize hope in God's never-ending love.
The three purple candles are a sign of penance and the one rose candle is upcoming joy. The rose candle is always lit on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete (Latin for Rejoice) Sunday, because Christmas is near. The circular wreath itself symbolizes victory.
Other feast days in Advent that we celebrate: St. Juan Diego (December 9), Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) and St. Lucy (December 13 - Travel host Rick Steve's European Christmas is a must-watch program in PBS). Video http://youtu.be/__k8qIwWVdw
St. Peter's Church, Skokie, Illinois
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
Re-Published 11/3012 lib's labyrinth
From: lt
Subject: FW: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR YEAR OF THE CATHOLIC C...
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 16:59:55 -0600
Subj: Fw: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR YEAR OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH"
THESE ARE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR EACH CATHOLIC TO KNOW, UNDERSTAND AND MEMORIZE. TEACH OUR FAMILIES, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, SO THEY MAY APPRECIATE THE GENIUS OF CATHOLICISM. GOD BLESS.
Web Page: THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR YEAR OF THE CATHOLIC
Previous Publication on December 9, 2011 ust1611 Multiply website
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR YEAR OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH"
The Three Liturgical Cycles:
1. Liturgical Year – A (primary Gospel of Matthew)
2. Liturgical Year – B (primary Gospel of Mark)
3. Liturgical Year – C (primary Gospel of Luke)
John has no designated Liturgical Cycle. His Gospel is proclaimed every year during Lent, Easter and on other Sundays of the year.
See Attachments:
Liturgical Year – A: Start 11/28/10 and end 11/20/11
Liturgical Year – B: Start 11/27/11 and end 11/25/12
Liturgical Year – C: Start 12/02/12 and end 11/24/13 (not posted yet)
DEFINING THE WORD "LITURGY"
1. "The origin of Liturgy is to be found in the institution by Christ of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and the Sacraments, as well as in His example and precepts concerning the necessity and mode of prayer. While Christ laid down the essentials, He left the development of details to His Church, to carry out this task under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Liturgy has not been the same at all times in the past, nor is it the same everywhere today." (The New Catholic Dictionary; Copyright 1929, The Universal Knowledge Foundation.)
THE LITURGICAL YEAR/CALENDAR
2. The Liturgical Calendar begins every year during the last Sunday of November or at the least 3rd day of December which is the First Sunday of Advent and runs through to the Solemnity of Christ the King which is on the 3rd Sunday of November or at the least 26 day of November.
3. The liturgical year is the temporal structure within which the Church celebrates the holy mysteries of Christ: "From the Incarnation and the Nativity to the Ascension, to Pentecost and to the wait in joyful hope for the Lord's coming".
4. "During the liturgical year, 'the celebration of the Paschal Mystery [...] is the most privileged moment in the daily, weekly and annual celebration of Christian worship'. Consequently, the priority of the Liturgical year over any other devotional form or practice must be regarded as a touch stone for the relationship between Liturgy and popular piety." (# 94, Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December, 2001)
5. The Liturgical Calendar is a tool that kindles the hearts of Catholics so that they will remember God’s marvelous plan of salvation that was accomplished through the birth, life, death and rising of Christ Who once again walks the earth in our time and presence.
THE LITURGICAL CYCLES
6. The "Lectionary," the Mass readings from the Holy Bible, follows a Sunday cycle and a weekday cycle. The Liturgical Calendar follows a three year cycle, each year being represented by the letters, A, B and C.
7. During the year A cycle, the Gospel of Matthew is the primary Gospel that is used for the readings. In year B, Mark is the primary Gospel. In year C, Luke is the primary Gospel. The Gospel of John is proclaimed on Lent, Easter and on particular Sundays in each of the years.
8. On weekdays in Ordinary Time, there is a 2 year cycle numbered I and II. Year I is read in odd number years such as 2011, 2013, 2015. Year II is read in even years such as 2012, 2014, 2016.
9. It should be noted that if a person attends the Holy Mass everyday for 3 years, having been present for all the readings of the 3 cycles, most of the Holy Bible will have been read to him during that time frame.
THE SEASONS OF THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR
10. In each cycle of the Liturgical Calendar, you will find six Seasons:
(1) Advent,
(2) Christmas,
(3) Lent,
(4) Holy Week (Easter Triduum)
(5) Easter, and
(6) Ordinary Time.
11. During the year, in addition to the Sunday worship, the Church also celebrates Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials which may be on any day of the week. These occur during the year to commemorate special events or persons that are highly revered by the Catholic Church.
THE UNIVERSAL LITURGICAL CALENDAR
12. The entire Church is required to follow the approved Universal Liturgical Calendar. The Universal Calendar originated from the Congregation of the Liturgy at the Vatican. It contains monthly guides that must be followed by all the faithful.
THE REGIONAL LITURGICAL CALENDAR
13. Some celebrations are celebrated over an entire continent such as the celebration of the six patrons of Europe who are celebrated as Feasts within Europe. These celebrations, included in the Liturgical Calendar of certain countries, are over and above the mandatory observance of the Universal Liturgical Calendar.
THE NATIONAL LITURGICAL CALENDAR
14. Each country is permitted to have a National Liturgical Calendar that commemorates the Saints of national importance. These special celebrations are over and above those of Universal and Regional importance.
THE DIOCESAN LITURGICAL CALENDAR
15. Each diocese is permitted to have its own Liturgical Calendar to commemorate the diocesan patron(s) and Saints who are of important to the life of the diocese. These special celebrations are over and above the mandatory Universal, Regional and National celebrations. Dioceses are not required to commemorate the celebrations of other Dioceses unless such celebrations are a part of their own calendars.
RELIGIOUS LITURGICAL CALENDAR
16. Individual religious Orders can have their own Liturgical Calendar to commemorate the founder(s) and Saints of their Orders. When a parish/Church belongs to a religious Order, this calendar is observed. The observance of religious Orders is over and above the previously mentioned Liturgical Calendars that are obligatory.
LOCAL LITURGICAL CALENDAR
17. Every parish is encouraged to celebrate the formal Feast (Solemnity) of its Patron and the anniversary date of the dedication of the Church/parish. For example, if a Church was dedicated to Saint Peter on September 1st fifty years ago, and St. Peter’s Feast is celebrated on June 29th every year, then the Parish is required to commemorate Saint Peter on June 29th and September 1st of each year.
18. Parishes dedicated to Our Lady, those holding a Marian title such as Our Lady of Peace, where such a title is not in the Liturgical Calendar, can celebrate their Marian Feast on August 15th or on the date of another Marian Feast that more closely resembles the particular title of Our Lady for that particular Church.
THE LITURGICAL SEASONS:
19. The following is a glance of the Liturgical year:
Advent
4 weeks of preparation for Christmas
Christmas (birth of Christ)
Holy Family
Mary the Mother of God (New Year’s Day)
Epiphany
Baptism of the Lord
Ordinary Time I
Lent
Ash Wednesday
Passion (Palm) Sunday
Holy Week – Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday, and Easter Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.)Easter Vigil (The Resurrection)
Easter (Celebrate the Resurrection at Masses - The greatest Feast of the year.)
Second to Sixth Sundays
Ascension
Pentecost
Ordinary Time II
Trinity Sunday
Body and Blood of Christ
Ordinary Time II (continued...)
Solemnity of Christ the King
THE LITURGICAL YEAR EXPLAINED
ADVENT
20. Advent is the Season that includes four Sundays preceding Christmas. The Advent Season marks the beginning of the Liturgical Calendar. It always begins in late November or early December. On November 30th or on the Sunday that is the closest to this date, the Catholic Church begins the Liturgical Season of Advent. Advent ends on December 24th before the evening prayer of Christmas.
21. The word "advent" is derived from the Latin word “adventus,” which means "coming" or "arrival." During this time the faithful are admonished to prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord Jesus in three ways:
(1) First, to prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord as the Judge, either at death or at the end of this world, whichever may come first.
(2) Secondly, to prepare themselves to receive the Real Presence of our Redeemer at Christmas through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
(3) Thirdly, to prepare themselves for the coming of Christmas, the birthday anniversary of the Lord's coming into this world as God incarnate.
CHRISTMAS
22. Christmas is the season when Catholics and other Christian Churches give thanks to God the Father for the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ. This Season lasts 12 days, beginning on Christmas Eve (December 24th) and continues to the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th).
23. The word “Christmas” comes from the word “Christes Maesse,” which means “Christ’s Mass.” This is the Old English name for the service of Holy Communion that commemorates the birth of Christ. Christmas is one of the three great Feasts that are celebrated by the Catholic Church. The other two are Easter and Pentecost.
THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
24. “The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Sunday in the Christmas octave) is a festive occasion particularly suitable for the celebration of rites or moments of prayer proper to the Christian family. The recollection of Joseph, Mary and Jesus' going up to Jerusalem, together with other observant Jewish families, for the celebration of the Passover (cf. Luke 2, 41-42) 41 Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was customary. 42 And when Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with them according to the custom for this feast.) should normally encourage a positive acceptance of the pastoral suggestion that all members of the family attend Mass on this day. This Feast day also affords an opportunity for the renewal of our entrustment to the patronage of the Holy Family of Nazareth; the blessing of children as provided in the ritual; and where opportune, for the renewal of marriage vows taken by the spouses on their wedding day, and also for the exchange of promises between those engaged to be married in which they formalize their desire to found a new Christian family.”
25. “Outside of the Feast, the faithful have frequent recourse to the Holy Family of Nazareth in many of life's circumstances: joining the Association of the Holy Family so as to model their own families on the Holy Family of Nazareth; frequent prayers to entrust themselves to the patronage of the Holy Family and to obtain assistance at the hour of death.” (# 112, Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December, 2001)
THE FEAST OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD
26. “On New Year's Day, the octave day of Christmas, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Holy Mother of God. The divine and virginal motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a singular salvific event: for Our Lady it was the foretaste and cause of her extraordinary glory; for us it is a source of grace and salvation because "through her we have received the Author of life".” (# 115, Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December, 2001)
EPIPHANY (SUNDAY)
27. Beginning with the Epiphany (Sunday) of our Lord and the Sundays that follow, Christ's manifestation of Himself to the world is traced out through His public ministry and miracles. The Epiphany Season celebrates the many ways that Christ made Himself known to the world.
The Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord places emphasis on three events:
1. The visit of the Magi [Matthew 2:1-12]:
Wise men from the east
1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Judea, during the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star in the east and have come to honor him.” 3 When Herod heard this he was greatly disturbed and with him all Jerusalem. 4 He immediately called a meeting of all high-ranking priests and the scribes, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they told him, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the clans of Judah, for from you will come a leader, the one who is to shepherd my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men and asked them the precise time the star appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem with the instruction, “Go and get precise information about the child. As soon as you have found him, report to me, so that I too may go and honor him.” 9 After the meeting with the king, they set out. The star that they had seen in the East went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 The wise men were overjoyed on seeing the star again. 11 They went into the house and when they saw the child with Mary his mother, they knelt and worshiped him. They opened their bags and offered him their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. 12 In a dream they were warned not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their home country by another way.
2. The Baptism of Jesus [Mark 1:9-11]:
The Baptism of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth, a town of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And the moment he came up out of the water, heaven opened before him and he saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 11 And these words were heard from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved, the One I have chosen.”
3. And the miracle at Cana [John 2:1-11]:
The wedding at Cana
2 • 1 Three days later there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus was also invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When all the wine provided for the celebration had been served and they had run out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 Jesus replied, “Woman, what concern is that to you and me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 However his mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby were six stone water jars meant for the ritual washing as practiced by the Jews; each jar could hold twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them to the brim. 8 Then Jesus said, “Now draw some out and take it to the steward.” So they did. 9 The steward tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing from where it had come; for only the servants who had drawn the water knew. So, he called the bridegroom 10 to tell him, “Everyone serves the best wine first and when people have drunk enough, he serves that which is ordinary. Instead you have kept the best wine until the end.” 11 This miraculous sign was the first, and Jesus performed it at Cana in Galilee. In this way he let his Glory appear and his disciples believed in him.
Nowadays, emphasize is placed on the visit of the Magi (the three wise men) on Epiphany Day, Christ's baptism being commemorated on the First Sunday that follows.
28. The Epiphany of our Lord is observed on January 6th. Some countries have moved the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord to the nearest Sunday, calling that day “Epiphany Sunday.” The Epiphany Season lasts until the beginning of Lent. It includes four to nine Sunday, depending on the date of Easter Sunday.
29. The word “Epiphany” originates from the Greek word “epiphainen.” It is a verb that means "to shine upon," "to manifest," or "to make known."
THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
30. “Closely connected with the salvific events of the Epiphany are the mysteries of the Baptism of the Lord and the manifestation of his glory at the marriage Feast of Cana.”
31. “Christmastide closes with the Baptism of the Lord. Only in recent times has the Feast been rehabilitated, and hence has not given rise to any particular displays of popular piety. However, the Feast presents an excellent opportunity for the faithful to be reminded of their rebirth as children of God in Baptism.” (# 119, Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December, 2001)
ORDINARY TIME I
32. Ordinary Time I begins with the Monday that immediately follows the Baptism of the Lord. It ends on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. During this part of the Liturgical Calendar, all the Sundays are numbered consecutively. (Consecutively means 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc...) During this time frame, the Liturgy of the word (Church readings) is devoted to the mysteries surrounding the life of Christ.
ASH WEDNESDAY
33. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It is a day of repentance and self-examination. It reaches its peak in Holy Week, the commemoration of our Lord's passion and death.
34. “In the Roman Rite, the beginning of the forty days of penance is marked with the austere symbol of ashes which are used in the Liturgy of Ash Wednesday. The use of ashes is a survival from an ancient rite according to which converted sinners submitted themselves to canonical penance. The act of putting on ashes symbolizes fragility and mortality, and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God. Far from being a merely external act, the Church has retained the use of ashes to symbolize that attitude of internal penance to which all the baptized are called during Lent. The faithful who come to receive ashes should be assisted in perceiving the implicit internal significance of this act, which disposes them towards conversion and renewed Easter commitment.” (# 125, Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December, 2001)
35. The sacramental ashes are made from burned palms that were distributed during the previous year on Palm Sunday. The sacramental ashes remind us that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. A symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, the ashes help us to develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.
36. Those who are physically healthy, they are called to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays during Lent. Fasting consists of one full meatless meal and other limited meatless meals as required to maintain strength. The sick, the young, the elderly are not required to fast. This sacrificial fasting and abstinence should be done with the goal of spiritual development and conversion.
LENT
37. “Lent precedes and prepares for Easter. It is a time to hear the Word of God, to convert, to prepare for and remember Baptism, to be reconciled with God and one's neighbor, and of more frequent recourse to the "arms of Christian penance": prayer, fasting and good works (cf. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18).
Doing good for God alone
1 Be careful not to make a show of your righteousness before people. If you do so, you do not gain anything from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be seen in the synagogues and in the streets in order to be praised by the people. I assure you, they have been already paid in full. 3 If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father who sees what is kept secret, will reward you.
Prayer
5 When you pray, do not be like those who want to be seen. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. 6 When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept secret will reward you.
Fasting
16 When you fast, do not put on a miserable face as do the hypocrites. They put on a gloomy face, so people can see they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. 17 When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, 18 because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father who sees beyond appearances. And your Father, who sees what is kept secret will reward you.
” (# 124, Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December, 2001)
38. Through several stages of Christian initiation, the Lenten liturgy prepares the catechumens for the paschal mystery. The faithful are reminded of their own baptism and prepared through the penitential practices.
39. Lent is a 40 day Liturgical Season that initiates the most sacred part of the Christian year. It begins on Ash Wednesday, covers 6 Sundays and ends at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday. During Lent, Catholics are called to meditate with awe and thanksgiving on the great Paschal mystery, the salvation God offers to us sinners through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The season of Lent is a highlight in the Catholic calendar.
40. Because the Season of Lent is a time of penitence, reflection and prayer that is solemn and restrained, flowers are generally removed from the sanctuary. Songs of praise such as the “Gloria in Excelsis” and the “Alleluias” are removed from the Liturgical Calendar.
PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY
41. “Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, or ‘Passion Sunday’, which unites the royal splendor of Christ with the proclamation of his Passion".
42. "The procession, commemorating Christ's messianic entry into Jerusalem, is joyous and popular in character. The faithful usually keep palm or olive branches, or other greenery which have been blessed on Palm Sunday in their homes or in their work places.“
43. “The faithful, however, should be instructed as to the meaning of this celebration so that they might grasp its significance. They should be opportunely reminded that the important thing is participation at the procession and not only the obtaining of palm or olive branches. Palms or olive branches should not be kept as amulets, or for therapeutic or magical reasons to dispel evil spirits or to prevent the damage these cause in the fields or in the homes, all of which can assume a certain superstitious guise.”
44. “Palms and olive branches are kept in the home as a witness to faith in Jesus Christ, the messianic king, and in his Paschal Victory.” (# 139, Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December, 2001)
HOLY WEEK
45. During Holy Week, the holiest time of the liturgical year, the faithful gather to relive the final week of our Lord's life.
THE EASTER TRIDUUM
46. “Triduum” is Latin for “Great Three Days.” The Easter Triduum, of 3 days duration, recalls the events of the First Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
47. Every year, the Church celebrates the great mysteries of the redemption of mankind in the "most sacred triduum of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection". The Sacred Triduum extends from the Mass of the Lord's Supper to Vespers on Easter Sunday and is celebrated "in intimate communion with Christ her Spouse". (# 140, Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy; Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December, 2001)
GOOD FRIDAY
48. Good Friday is the second day of the Sacred Triduum. It is the solemn remembrance of the death of Jesus on the Holy Cross. “Good Friday” was formerly known as “God’s Friday.” In time, the name was corrupted and came to be known as “Good Friday.”
49. “The Church celebrates the redemptive death of Christ on Good Friday. The Church meditates on the Lord's Passion in the afternoon liturgical action, in which she prays for the salvation of the world, adores the Cross and commemorates her very origin in the sacred wound in Christ's side
CATHOLIC VOCABULARY
