_________________________ THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR _________________________ By Rev. Fr. George Ehusani Wednesday Faith Clinic, December 9, 2009

THE SECULAR CALENDAR 1 Today’s Secular Western Calendar (known as The Gregorian Calendar ) comes from the Reform of Pope Gregory the Great in 1582 by which previously existing Calendars were harmonised The Gregorian Calendar marks the passage of time. It has: 365 (or 366) DAYS, 52 WEEKS & 12 (Unequal MONTHS) 30 Days are September April June & November All the rest are31 Except February alone Which has 28 days in the normal year And 29 days in each leap year

THE SECULAR CALENDAR 2 The Secular Calendar shows such major celebrations and holidays as: Christmas Easter Independence Day Workers’ Day (May Day) Children’s Day Armed Forces Remembrance Day Valentine’s Day The Secular Year begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 3 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR The Liturgical Year is the celebration throughout the year of the mysteries of the Lord’s Birth, Life, Death & Resurrection in such a way that the entire year becomes a ‘year of the Lord’s grace.’ The cycle of the liturgical year and the great feasts constitute the basic rhythm of the Christian life of prayer with its focal point at Easter (See CCC 1168)

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 4 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR The Liturgical Year is marked by special seasons— ADVENT CHRISTMAS LENT EASTER TRIDUUM EASTER TIME ORDINARY TIME It begins on the 1st Sunday of Advent and ends on the Feast of Christ the King

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 5 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR Unlike the Gregorian Calendar the Liturgical Calendar is not meant to simply mark the passage of time but to celebrate & understand fully the mystery of Jesus Christ— his Incarnation and Birth his Teaching and Healing ministries his Passion and Death his Resurrection and Ascension his sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day, and the Expectation of his return in glory _______________________________ During the course of the year the above mysteries are viewed from different perspectives – from different accounts

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 6 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ADVENT – (from Latin adventus = arrival Is the liturgical season of 4 weeks devoted to preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and his expected 2nd coming at the end of time when “the wolf will live with the lamb” The season lasts from 1st Sunday of Advent until December 24 – Christmas Eve The COLOUR of the Season is Purple The Gloria is omitted during this time A feature of Advent in many places is the Advent Wreath which has four candles… representing Hope, Faith, Joy & Love

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 7 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR CHRISTMASTIDE The Christmas season follows Advent Begins with Evening Prayer of December 24 & ends with feast of Baptism of the Lord – Sunday after Epiphany Epiphany comes up anywhere between January 2nd & January 8th The COLOUR of the Season is White

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 8 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR ORDINARY TIME A period of 33 or 34 Sundays in TWO PARTS— First Part is from the Monday after Baptism of the Lord and ends on the eve of Ash Wednesday – It contains anything from 3 to 8 Sundays depending on how early or how late Easter falls Second Part is the period between Pentecost and the first Sunday of Advent The period has between 26 & 31 Sundays The main focus in the Scripture readings at Mass is Christ’s earthly ministry – his teaching & healing ministry The COLOUR of the Season is Green

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 9 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR LENT Is the penitential season of preparation - purification and penance – for Easter It begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday Lent lasts for 40 days if Good Friday & Holy Saturday are added and if the 6 Sundays are not counted The Gloria and the Alleluia are not said or sung during this season except for solemnities & feasts The COLOUR of the season is Purple

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 10 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR HOLY WEEK Refer to the last week of Lent – the 7 days preceding Easter Sunday beginning with PALM Sunday and ending with Holy Saturday The readings begin to focus more on the passion of Christ Though Purple is the COLOUR for the Season Red/Rose is often used on Palm Sunday Any feasts that occur during this week -- except that of St. Joseph and the Annunciation – are suppressed

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 11 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR EASTER TRIDUUM Begins with the Maundy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper and includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday These days recall— Jesus’ Last Supper Death on the Cross Burial & Resurrection

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 12 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR MAUNDY THURSDAY On this day— Chrism Mass is celebrated in the morning Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the evening At the “Chrism Mass” The Holy Oils to be used in the next one year are consecrated by the Bishop Priests renew their priestly commitment ___________________________________ The Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the evening features the Washing of the Feet Mass is followed by a vigil of prayer up till midnight The Colour for this day is White

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 13 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR GOOD FRIDAY commemorates the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ Mass is not celebrated However a celebration of the Passion of Christ in 3 Part is held. It Has: The Liturgy of the Word (with the Passion narrative from John’s Gospel) The Solemn Universal Prayer Unveiling & Veneration of the Cross Communion COLOUR for this day is Red

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 14 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR HOLY SATURDAY Commemorates the day during which Christ lay in the tomb There is no Liturgical celebration on this day Mass celebrated from 6.00 p.m. on this day is Easter Vigil Masses Midnight Mass is Mass of the Resurrection featuring the Paschal Candle, Reading of the History of Salvation, Adult Baptism, etc __________________________ The Gloria is sung Also the bells – which were suspended from Maundy Thursday – are used again The Crucifixes & Statues are Unveiled

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 16 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR EASTER SEASON It is the 7 week period following immediately Easter Triduum and reaching its climax and end at Pentecost The date of Easter varies from year to year according to a lunar-calendar dating system known as “computus” For the Western Church Easter is the 1st Sunday after the 14th day of the of the lunar month (full moon) that falls on or after March 21 (day of the vernal equinox) Easter Sunday is followed by an Octave— which (like the Octave of Christmas) is given the status of Feast

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 17 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR In the Liturgical Calendar the mysteries of our faith are celebrated with— SOLEMNITIES SUNDAYS OTHER FEASTS MEMORIALS (and optional memorials) ORDINARY DAYS _______________________________

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 18 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR SOLEMNITIES include: Immaculate Conception (December 8) Christmas (December 25) Mary Mother of God (January 1) Epiphany* (January 3, 2010) St. Joseph (March 19) Annunciation (March 25) Easter* (April 4, 2010) Ascension* (May 13, 2010) Pentecost* (May 23, 2010))

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 19 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR Other SOLEMNITIES continued: Pentecost Sunday (May 23, 2010) Holy Trinity (May 30, 2010) Corpus Christi (June 6, 2010) Sacred heart of Jesus (June 11, 2010) Birth of John the Baptist (June 24) Peter & Paul (June 29) Assumption (August 15) Christ the King* (November 21, 2010)

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 20 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR FEASTS (I): SUNDAY: Sunday is the primordial Christian feast It is the weekly celebration of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ observed since apostolic times as a holy day of obligation It is the weekly “Easter “ by which Christians celebrate Christ’s victory over sin & death The celebration of Sunday gives only to Solemnities or Feasts of the Lord But the Sundays of Advent, Lent and Easter season, always take precedence over all feasts or solemnities of the Lord On all Sundays the Nicene CREED is said or sung The GLORIA is said or sung on most Sundays

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 21 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR FEASTS (II): Blessed Cyprian I. TANSI (January 20) Baptism of the Lord (January 10, 2010) Conversion of St. Paul (January 25) Presentation of the Lord (February 2, 2010) St. Patrick (March 17) St. Matthias (May 14) Visitation of B. V. Mary (May 31) St. Thomas (July 3)

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 22 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR FEASTS (III): Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6) St. Lawrence (August 10) St. Bartholomew (August 24) Birthday of the B. V. Mary (September 8) Exaltation of the Cross (September 14) St. Matthew (September 21) Sts. Michael/Gabriel/Raphael (Sep 29) Our Lady Patroness of Nigeria (Oct 1)

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 23 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR FEASTS (IV) St. Luke (October 14) All Saints (November 1) All Souls (November 2) Dedication of Lateran Basilica Feast of St. Stephen (December 26) HOLY INNOCENTS (December 28)

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 24 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR MEMORIALS include the following: St. Francis Xavier (December 3) St. Ambrose (December 7) Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 21) St. John of the Cross (December 14) St. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen (January 2) St. Timothy and Titus (January 26) St. Thomas Aquinas (January 28)

HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION 25 HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION Apart from Sunday, the following are recognised by the Universal Church as Holy Days of Obligation: Christmas Day Mary Mother of God Epiphany Joseph Ascension Corpus Christi Peter & Paul Assumption All Saints Immaculate Conception

26 LITURGICAL FEATURES Liturgies celebrated during the different seasons have distinctive features: READINGS PRAYERS MUSIC RITUALS COLOURS All these work together to reflect— the theological emphasis the spirit, and the mood of the particular season __________________________________ The COLOURS of the vestments the priest wears (and sometimes the colours used to decorate the Church) do help to express the character of the mysteries of faith being celebrated during the season

LITURGICAL COLOURS 27 WHITE -- the colour of joy and victory is used for the Seasons of Easter and Christmas Also used for the feasts of: the Lord Jesus the Blessed Virgin Mary the Angels & Saints who are not martyrs (Gold may be used in place of white on solemn occasions) RED – the colour of blood & fire used on Passion Sunday and Good Friday (when we celebrate the passion of Christ) Also used for feast Apostles, Evangelists and Martyrs. Red is also used for Pentecost (Holy Spirit) and for the Sacrament of Confirmation

LITURGICAL COLOURS 28 GREEN -- common day colour seen in plants and trees It symbolises life and hope Used during the Ordinary Time PURPLE – Used in the season of Lent to signify penance and renewal It is also used in Advent to helps us remember that we are preparing for the coming of Christ.

LITURGICAL READINGS 29 Scripture passages for each Sunday and each day of the year are specified in the collection known as the Lectionary used not only by Roman Catholics, but also by some mainline protestant churches In the Liturgical Calendar the Scriptures are arranged for use in Cycles – (Cycle A, B & C or Year 1, 2 & 3) on Sundays and Year I & II on Weekdays From the first Sunday of Advent each year to the last Sunday of Ordinary Time (Solemnity of Christ the King) the Church reflects on a particular Synoptic Gospel on normal Sundays – with a few exceptions and another Synoptic Gospel on Weekdays

LITURGICAL READINGS 30 In the Liturgical Year (2008-2009) ended on November 22, 2009 Sunday Readings were from Year B and Weekday Readings were from Year 1 In the current Liturgical Year (2009-2010) Our Sunday Readings are from Year C While the Weekday Readings are from Year 2 We use the Gospel of Luke (predominantly) on Sundays and the Gospel of Matthew (predominantly) on Weekdays