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

2. 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

3. 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

4. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR3
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)

5. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR4
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

6. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR5
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

7. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR6
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

8. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR7
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

9. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR8
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

10. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR9
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

11. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR10
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

12. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR11
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

13. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR12
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

14. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR13
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

15. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR14
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

16. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR16
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

17. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR17
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
_______________________________

18. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR18
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))

19. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR19
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)

20. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR20
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

21. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR21
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)

22. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR22
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)

23. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR23
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)

24. THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR24
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)

25. HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION25
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. 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

27. 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

28. 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.

29. 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

30. 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 ( )
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