Liturgy Comes from the Greek: Laos + Ergon = public work done on behalf of the people Key Elements in achieving a proper Definition: 1.) Action of Jesus Christ 2.) Organized community 3.) Centered on the Trinity 4.) Participation in the Paschal Mystery  “The Church celebrates in the liturgy above all the Paschal Mystery by which Christ accomplished the work of our salvation.” CCC # 1027  The heart of our Catholic Faith  2 goals of any Liturgy  Glorify God  Sanctify Man  NOT MERELY ENTERTAINMENT OR A SHOW OR A PLAY  SACRED ACTION  There are other liturgies besides the Mass.

 “The exercise of the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ each according to one’s own station in life, through signs perceptible to the senses, whereby the Paschal Mystery is celebrated, through which God is glorified and humanity is sanctified.”

 The unfolding of the whole mystery of Jesus Christ in time.  “Time vs. eternity”  Importance of symbols in the Liturgy  2 hinges of the Liturgical Year:  Celebration of the Eucharist (Mass)  Liturgy of the Hours (Breviary)

 Liturgical Days  Sunday  Solemnities  Feasts  Obligatory Memorials  Optional Memorials  Ferial Days (Weekdays)  Liturgical Seasons (Cycle)  Easter Triduum  Easter Season  Lent  Christmas Season  Advent  Ordinary Time

SUNDAY… OR SATURDAY NIGHT 3 RD COMMANDMENT: “KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH”  Solemnity/ Holy Day begins with the evening of the preceding day (4:00 pm- traditionally)  Celebration of the Paschal Mystery on the First Day of the Week  Tradition handed on from the apostles  Origin: Christ’s Resurrection  The Church encourages the “Lord’s Day” to be a day of rest and recreation.  Works of Mercy  Apostolate--- charitable deeds

SOLEMNITIESLIST OF SOLEMNITIES  Begins on the evening preceding the actual day  Stress an important celebration in the life of Jesus Christ, his Mother, and the life of the Church  Mass --> Gloria, 3 Scripture Readings (OT, NT, Gospel), and Creed  Solemnity of Mary Mother of God  Epiphany of our Lord  Saint Joseph  Annunciation  Easter and its octave  Holy Trinity  Corpus Christi  Sacred Heart  Birth of Saint John the Baptist  Saints Peter and Paul  Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary  All Saints  Christ the King  Immaculate Conception  Christmas and its octave

FEASTSEXAMPLE OF FEASTS  Celebrations of important events in the life of our Lord, the apostles, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  “Small step down from Solemnities”  Celebrated within the limits of the natural day--- Midnight to midnight  Mass  Gloria, usually only 2 readings (usually OT+Gospel), NO CREED  The Baptism of our Lord  The Birth of Mary  The Feast of Saint Matthew  The Feast of the Archangels  Saint Andrew  Dedication Saint John Lateran  Numerous others

DEFINITION: OBLIGATORY VS. OPTIONAL  Celebration of saints in the life of the Church.  Commemorate their life and their death.  Veneration  Martyrs, Saints  Rely on their intercession  Mass  No Gloria, 2 Readings (usually OT+Gospel), No Creed  Obligatory--- The Mass must be celebrated in honor of the Saint--- Special Opening, Closing Prayers/ Preface  Optional--- The Priest may opt not to celebrate the Saint of the Day during the Liturgy.

 Fancy name for “Weekdays”  No particular celebration (Sunday, Solemnity, Feast, Obligatory Memorial, Optional Memorial) occurs on these days.  Within every celebration whether Solemnity or Ferial Day, we still celebrate the Suffering, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ. *The Eucharist is the same on a weekday as on Sunday--- It is the same Jesus Christ!

 Seasons of the Year--- celebration of the whole mystery of Jesus Christ  Advent  Christmas and its Octave  Christmas Season  Ordinary Time  Lent  Easter Triduum  Easter Season  Ordinary Time  Cycle Repeats itself… N.B. The Yearly Cycle in the Church consists of 3 years. Year A, B, and C. Used to incorporate more of the readings of the Gospels.

 Unfolds the mystery of Jesus Christ throughout the year.  Christ is the beginning (alpha) and the end (omega) of every year.  He is the “Lord of all time”  Even time is encompassed by Christ.  Sacramental force which nourishes us.  Heaven meets earth/ time meets eternity

 Importance of color in the liturgy  Each day of the year has a specific color assigned to the celebration this it is commemorating.  Each color has a specific meaning  expressing a theological meaning.  Liturgical colors:  White/gold/silver  Green  Red  Purple  Black  Rose  Some people wear Blue, but blue itself is NOT a true liturgical color.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! The beginning of the Church’s Liturgical year Ancient Expectancy of the Messiah made present Renew our desire for Christ’s 2 nd coming. Extra emphasis on prayerfulness, vigilance. Stay awake  Length of time: 4 weeks in advent  Liturgical Color: Purple and Rose (3 rd Sunday of Advent)  Liturgical Tradition: Advent Wreath

 Commemorate the beginning of salvation and the first fruits of the Paschal Mystery.  Remember the “marvelous exchange” by which share in divinity.  Heaven’s glory – made manifest (Incarnation)  Octave--- 8 days (Special Solemnity) Why 8?  Nativity  Baptism of our Lord  Epiphany  Length of time: About 2 weeks  Liturgical Color: White  Special Liturgical Note: All genuflect during the creed on Christmas at the words “By the power of the H.S. he became man.”

 2 sections  Part I begins after the Christmas Season and lasts until Ash Wednesday.  Celebration of the total mystery of the Church from Creation to Pentecost.  Christ working and teaching among us.  Liturgical color: Green  Motto: “Live ordinary time in an extraordinarily good way.”

 Commemorates the 40 days in the desert  Preparation for the Paschal Mystery  Intense preparation of catechumens  Penance is more public; communal nature of sin  We go to the desert  Radical transformation  Listen to the call of the Lord.  Culminates in the Triduum  Length of time: 40 days  Liturgical color: Purple and Rose  Tradition: Prayer, Fasting, Abstinence  Special day(s) in Lent:  Ash Wednesday  Palm Sunday

 Palm Sunday  Monday of Holy Week  Tuesday of Holy Week  Spy Wednesday  MOST SACRED DAYS OF CHURCH CALENDAR  Holy Thursday  Good Friday  Holy Saturday  Easter Vigil  Mother of all Vigils  Most sacred day of the Church year

 Begins with Easter Sunday  Commemoration of Christ’s victory over sin and death.  Sending out of all to proclaim the Kerygma  Gives meaning to our faith  This is repeated every SUNDAY!  Contains an Octave  Liturgical Color: White  Length of time: 50 days  Major celebrations within season:  Easter  Ascension  Pentecost

 2 sections  Part II begins after the Easter Season until Advent.  Celebration of the total mystery of the Church from Creation to Pentecost.  Christ working and teaching among us.  Liturgical color: Green  Motto: “Live ordinary time in an extraordinarily good way.”

 Various names for the Official prayer of the Church.  Liturgy of the Hours (LOH)  The Divine Office  The Roman Breviary  The Opus Dei (Work of God)  “The Hours”  Loosely “Christian Prayer”

 Official prayer of the Church offered at various times during the day in order to sanctify the Church.  Old Testament Reference  New Testament Reference  Clear beginnings: Monks in Middle Ages * St. Benedict  Use of Psalms (150)  Reform of the 2 nd Vatican Council (1960s)  Consistency throughout the ages: Psalms, Prayers, Canticles, Readings.

 Office of Readings  Morning Prayer  Daytime Prayer  Midmorning Prayer  Midday Prayer  Midafternoon Prayer Evening Prayer Night Prayer

 Office of Readings--- Matins  Morning Prayer--- Lauds  Mid-Morning Prayer--- Terce  Midday Prayer--- Sext  Mid-Afternoon Prayer--- None  Evening Prayer--- Vespers  Night Prayer--- Compline