Liturgical Seasons | Sadlier Religion

What Is the Liturgical Calendar?

For Catholics, the liturgical calendar marks the Church year, a sequence of seasons and feasts celebrated in the liturgy during a year’s time. The liturgical calendar uses terms and measurements similar to a typical calendar. However, the liturgical calendar’s purpose is to celebrate and understand the mystery of Jesus Christ and the expectation of his return in glory. In each liturgical year, we celebrate the entire life and paschal mystery of Jesus Christ. Liturgies celebrated during different seasons have distinctive music and specific readings, prayers, rituals, and colors.

Why Do We Use the Liturgical Calendar?

• The liturgical calendar helps us celebrate and understand more fully the entire mystery of Jesus Christ, from his Incarnation and birth until his Ascension, the day of Pentecost, and the expectation of his return in glory.
• The liturgical calendar tells us what Scripture readings the Church has designated to be used for each day.
• The liturgical calendar names the special feasts and commemorations celebrated during each season.

What Are the Seasons of the Liturgical Year?

The liturgical calendar leads us through the seasons of the liturgical year. The first season of the liturgical year is Advent. During Advent we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth and await Christmas, the celebration of the coming of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The color violet in Advent helps us to remember that we are preparing for the coming of Christ. The color rose may be used on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, to express the joy of anticipation for Christmas.

Christmas is the season in which we celebrate that God is with us always. The Christmas season begins on Christmas Day. White, the color of joy and victory, is used for the season of Christmas.

Ordinary Time is the season in which we celebrate the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and what it means to be his disciple. The name of this season is derived from the word ordinal, meaning “to count.” We call Ordinary Time ordinary because the weeks are named in number order. Ordinary Time is divided into two parts. The first falls between Christmas and Lent. The second occurs between the seasons of Easter and Advent. Green, seen everywhere in plants and trees, symbolizes life and hope and is the color used during Ordinary Time.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. During Lent we remember that Jesus suffered, died, and rose to new life. We pray, give alms, and fast in order to grow closer to Jesus and to one another. During Lent, we support those preparing for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. Lent, the season of penance and renewal, also uses the colors violet or purple, except for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, when the color rose is used to express the joy of anticipation for Easter.

Triduum is the Church’s greatest celebration. Triduum lasts three days (from Holy Thursday evening until Easter Sunday evening) and we remember and celebrate in the liturgy, with many traditions and rituals, the suffering, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Red (the color of blood) is used on days when we celebrate the passion of Jesus on Passion Sunday and Good Friday.

Easter begins on Easter Sunday evening and continues until Pentecost Sunday. Though the color for Easter is white, the color of joy and victory, red (the color of fire) recalls the Holy Spirit and is used on Pentecost. During the Easter season we rejoice in Jesus’ Resurrection and in the new life we have in Jesus Christ.