LITURGICAL
YEAR
Outline
1.
Brief History
2.
Choice of
3.
Seasons of the Year
4.
Christmas
5. Lent
and Easter Triduum
6.
Easter Season
7.
Ordinary Time
8.
Penitential Matters
9.
Major Feasts
10. Cycle of the Saints (Sanctorial
Cycle)
11. Liturgy of the Hours (Christian Prayer -
Breviary)
1. Brief History
Liturgical
seasons date from early centuries
Before
the Second Vatican Council each year was the
same
A
great deal of Scripture was missed in the
After
Vatican II It was decided to cover much more of Scripture
by having a
System of Cycles
Two
Weekday Cycles and Three Sunday Cycles
Weekdays there is one Reading which
varies and a Gospel
which does not
vary with the Cycle
Sundays
there are two
and all three
vary with the Cycle
By
or a New
Testament Epistle
2. Choice of
The
Gospel for the Sunday Cycles is:
Year A Matthew, Year B Mark, Year C Luke
Covered approximately sequentially in
Ordinary Time
John's
Gospel is spread throughout the year and the cycles
First
Reading usually Old Testament to match Gospel
Second
Reading usually semi-continuous New Testament Epistle
Weekdays
in Ordinary Time: Gospel - Mark weeks 1-9
Matthew 10-21, Luke 22-34
With extensive New and selected Old
Testament passages
3. Seasons of the Year
Advent
starts Liturgical Year
Christmas
Season
Short
session (5 to 9 weeks) of Ordinary Time
Lent 40 days
Easter
Triduum 3 days
Easter
Season
Ascension
after 40 days, Pentecost after 50 days
Ordinary
Time 24 to 29 weeks
Christ
Our King ends Liturgical Year (end of Nov.)
4. Advent and Christmas Season
Advent
lasts 3 weeks plus a fraction of a week
Starts on Last Sunday of November or
1st Sunday of December
Christmas
is December 25
Followed
by Feasts of Holy Family, Epiphany
(arrival of the
Magi) -
Baptism of the Lord
Then
comes 5 to 9 weeks of Ordinary Time
before Lent
5. Lent and Easter Triduum
Mardi
Gras (Tuesday), Then Ash Wednesday
Lent
for 40 Days (excluding six Sundays)
Passion/Palm
Sunday near end of Lent
Easter
Triduum, three Holy Days
Holy
Thursday, Chrism Mass, Last Supper Mass,
Washing of Feet, Seder Meal
Good
Friday, venerate cross,
no Mass,
Communion,
Easter
Vigil at sundown, Fire, Paschal Candle,
Blessing of Lights
RCIA
Group joins the Church
6. Easter Season
Easter
Vigil (Saturday evening) elaborate Main Mass
Easter Day there Is
a more ordinary Mass
Ascension
Thursday 40 days after Easter
Pentecost
in 50 days
Then
comes Trinity Sunday, followed by
Feast
of Body and Blood of Christ
Formerly
The
following Sunday Starts Ordinary Time
7. Ordinary Time
5
to 9 weeks before Lent
24
to 29 weeks after Easter Season
Gospels
Recount Public Life of Jesus
Year A - Matthew, B - Mark,
C - Luke
Green
vestments are worn at Mass
8. Penitential Matters
Penitential
seasons Advent and Lent
Fasting - Ash Wed & Good Friday - Ages 14 to 60
Abstinence - (No Meat) Ash Wed and Fridays
of Lent
Starting at Age 14
We
should all select penances for ourselves
Giving up pleasures that we enjoy
Do extra things like daily Mass, Stations
of Cross
Easter
Duty - receive communion from
First Sunday of Lent to Pentecost
Confession
required once a year, desirable monthly
9. Major Feasts
Christmas
Season: Holy Family (Sun after Xmas)
Mary Mother of God (Jan 1st) - Epiphany (Jan 6)
Baptism of
the Lord (next
Sun)
Trinity Sunday - Body and Blood of Christ
Other
Devotional Feasts:
Sacred Heart - Christ Our King end of Nov.
Assumption of Mary Aug. 15 - All Saints Nov. 1
All Souls Nov. 2 - Immaculate Conception Dec. 8
10. Cycle
of the Saints (Sanctorial Cycle)
Feast
days of Saints throughout the Year
All
Saints Day November 1st
Roman
Calendar - Feasts celebrated throughout world
Most
saints are not on Roman Calendar
Some
feast days are for particular countries, dioceses
languages or
religious orders
11. Liturgy of the Hours (Christian
Prayer-Breviary)
Official
Prayer of the Church
Office of Readings- Morning Prayer
(Lauds)
Long
daily readings from Old Testament,
Epistles, and
Fathers of the Church
Monks
sing the office in choir
150
Psalms recited in four week cycle
Rosary
- 150 Hail Marys for 150 Psalms
Recitation
required of Priests and Deacons
is recommended
for all
CPP