LiturgicalYear

The word liturgy comes from an ancient greek phrase meaning 'public duty' or 'public work.'
In the Liturgy of the Mass we come together, publicly, to celebrate the mystery of Christ.
We rejoice in God's presence and power in the world. This is the work the Lord has given
us.

Like the school year or the Calendar year, the liturgical year moves in cycles and
seasons. During each season we concentrate on a specific aspect of the life of Jesus
Christ. And like the calendar year each season is marked with its own holidays (a
contraction of the words 'holy days') and colors.

We begin the liturgical year with the season of Advent. Advent is a time of anticipation and
preparation as we await the birth of Jesus. The Advent season begins 4 Sundays before
Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve at the Vigil Mass. The color of Advent is purple or
deep blue as a reminder of our solemn anticipation of the coming of our Lord.

The Christmas season is the celebration of Jesus' birth and the joyful events associated
with it. It follows Advent, beginning at the Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve and continuing until
the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The primary colors of the Christmas season are
white and gold signifying the purity and joy we feel in the presence of Jesus Christ, our
Lord.

After the Christmas season is the first of two seasons of Ordinary Time. During these
seasons we learn and rejoice in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The first season of
Ordinary Time is usually six to seven weeks long. The color for Ordinary Time is green to
remind us of life and hope.

Lent is the next season and begins on Ash Wednesday. Like Advent, Lent is a season of
anticipation and preparation. However, since the Resurrection is proceded by Jesus's
suffering and death, the emphasis during Lent is more reflective and more personal. During
Lent we remember that Jesus suffered, died and rose again to save us from sin and to give
us eternal life in God's presence. In preparation for the Easter season we are commanded
by Church to a periord of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The color of Lent is purple,
reminding us of our penance and sadness.

Lent culminates in the The Easter Triduum, the shortest (at three days) and the most
important, season in the liturgical year. Beginning on Holy Thursday and ending on the
evening of Easter Sunday, the Triduum is the remembrance and the celebration of the
essential mystery of our faith, the suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The
color for Good Friday is red for Jesus' suffereing on the Cross. The color for the rest of the
Triduum is white.

Easter season begins on the evening of Easter Sunday and continues for fifty days until
Pentecost Sunday. The Easter season is a celebration of Jesus' Resurrection and th enw
life we have been granted in Jesus Christ. We also remember Jesus's Ascension to
Heaven 40 days after Easter and we end the season with Pentecost and a celebration of
the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. The colors of the Easter season are
white and gold for joy and purity. Pentecost is celebrated in red for the Holy Spirit.

After Pentecost Sunday we begin the second season of Ordinary Time. This is the longest
season in the liturgical calendar at approximately 25 weeks. The emphasis during these
weeks instruction in our Christian faith and morals. The color for Ordinary Time is green.