LITURGICAL YEAR

Liturgy and Liturgical seasons

1. What is the liturgy?

The word "liturgy" refers to the celebration of divine worship, and in addition to the proclamation of the Gospel and to active charity. The liturgy is an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ, and in it full public worship is performed. The liturgy engages the faithful in the new life of the community, and involves the conscious, active, and fruitful participation of everyone. [glossary, 1067-1071].

2. What are liturgical seasons?

From the time of the Mosaic law the People of God have celebrated fixed feasts, beginning with the Passover, to commemorate the astonishing actions of the Savior God, to give him thanks for them, to perpetuate their remembrance, and to teach new generations to conform their conduct to them. Once every week on the Lord's Day, and once a year at Easter, the Church keeps the memory of the Lord's resurrection. At Christmas the Church recalls to mind the birth of the Savior. Throughout the year the liturgy goes through a cycle of liturgical seasons during which it recounts the various events and mysteries of our salvation to open up to the faithful the riches of Our Lord's powers and merits. This cycle of seasons constitutes the liturgical year. [1163-1165, 1171].

Components of the Liturgical Year

3. When does the liturgical year start and when does it end?

The liturgical year starts with the first Sunday of Advent, and ends on the Saturday after the Feast of Christ the King (34th Sunday of Ordinary Time).

4. What are the three parts of the liturgical year?

The three parts of the liturgical year are the Christmas season which starts with the first Sunday of Advent and ends with the Baptism of the Lord, the Easter season which begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts until Pentecost, and the remaining 34 weeks which constitute what is called Ordinary Time. The weeks of Ordinary Time are divided, with several of them (4 to 9 weeks) celebrated between the Epiphany and the start of Lent, and the remainder (29 to 24 weeks) celebrated between Pentecost and the start of Advent. The number of weeks of Ordinary Time that come before Lent, and the number celebrated after Pentecost, varies from year to year, depending on the date of Easter. [1171].

5. What are the main feasts of the Christmas season?

The four week period of Advent precedes and prepares the way for the coming of the Savior at Christmas. The main feasts of the Christmas season are Christmas itself (Dec. 25), St. Stephen the first martyr (Dec. 26), St. John apostle and evangelist (Dec. 27), The Holy Innocents (Dec. 28), Holy Mary Mother of God (Jan. 1), The Holy Family (octave of Christmas), the Epiphany (coming of the Magi, Jan. 6), and the Baptism of the Lord (Sunday after Jan. 6).

6. What are the main feasts and events of the Easter Season?

The 40 day penitential period of Lent, starting on Ash Wednesday, precedes and prepares the way for the celebration of Easter, the Solemnity of Solemnities. The main feasts of the Easter season are Passion/Palm Sunday, the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Chrism Mass, Last Supper Mass, Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion, Easter Vigil Mass), the Ascension of the Lord (Thursday, 40 days after Easter) and Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter). [1168-1171].

Cycles of the Liturgical Year

7. What is the cyclic structure of the liturgical year?

In order to cover more of the scriptures in the liturgy a system of cycles has been established. There are three Sunday cycles A, B and C, where Cycle C comes in years that are divisible by 3, and there are two weekday cycles 1 and 2, with Cycle 1 on odd numbered years, and Cycle 2 on even years. In Ordinary Time during Cycle A the Gospel of Matthew is read, during Cycle B that of Mark, and during Cycle C Luke is read. The Gospel of John is spread throughout various Sunday, weekday and sanctorial liturgies. During the weekday cycles the first reading varies with the cycle, but the Gospel remains the same.

8. What is the sanctorial cycle of the liturgical year?

In celebrating the annual cycle of the mysteries of Christ, Holy Mother Church honors the Blessed Mary, mother of God, with a special love, and a number of feasts are dedicated to her. She is inseparably linked with the saving work of her Son. The Church keeps memorials during the annual cycle of martyrs and other saints who have suffered and have been glorified with Christ. Particular dates of the calendar are assigned as feast or memorial days for the various saints. The Church proposes these saints to the faithful as examples of individuals who draw all men to the Father through Christ, and through their merits she begs for God's favor. [1172, 1173].

Liturgy of the Hours

9. What is the Liturgy of the Hours?

The Liturgy of the Hours, also called the divine office, is the public prayer of the Church. It integrates the prayer of the psalms into the age of the Church, expressing the symbolism of the time of the day, the liturgical season, or the feast being celebrated. Moreover, the reading from the Word of God at each hour, followed by responses, and readings from the Fathers and spiritual masters at one of the hours, reveal more deeply the meaning of the mystery being celebrated, assist in understanding the psalms, and prepare for silent prayer. [1177, 1437].

10. What are the parts or 'hours' of the Liturgy of the Hours?

The Liturgy of the Hours begins with Morning Prayer (matins or lauds), followed by Daytime Prayer (midmorning, midday, midafternoon), Evening prayer (vespers), and Night Prayer (compline). There is also an Office of the Readings which includes a scripture passage and a non-scripture passage, generally a selection from a Father of the Church. Each of these hours includes three psalms or parts of psalms, or two psalms and a canticle. Other selections like hymns, the Lord's prayer, intercessions, and canticles are included. There is a four week cycle during which almost all the psalms are covered at least once. The Liturgy of the Hours follows the liturgical year (Christmas, Easter, Ordinary Time, and sanctorial cycle). [1174-1178].