LIVING A LITURGICAL LIFESTYLE

What is the Liturgical Year?

The liturgical year, much like many calendars, cycles through celebrations, feasts, seasons, and observances specific to the Catholic faith. This cycle traces the mystery of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The Catholic calendar consists of six seasons: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, the Paschal Triduum, and Easter. Each of these seasons unites us to Christ in his life on Earth:

Advent - Four weeks of preparation for the birth of Christ.

Christmas - Recalling the Nativity of Christ and meditation on the Incarnation.

Ordinary Time - (4-8 weeks after Christmas & 6 months after Easter) This season makes up most of the liturgical year, reflecting on the life and ministry of Jesus.

Lent - 6-week period of penance before Easter.

Paschal Triduum - Also known as Holy Week, these three days recall Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection.

Easter - 50 days of celebration of the Resurrection of Christ to Pentecost. 

Throughout the year, there are feasts, solemnities, and memorials that call for the celebration of the lives of the saints and holy people in the Church. During the year, there are holy days of obligation that require every member of the Church to attend Mass if they are able and to abstain from unnecessary work. This includes the weekly Sunday obligations.

For further information, please look to the USCCB Website.

Why recognize the liturgical year?

As Catholics, we are called to “open [ourselves] to this spiritual understanding of the economy of salvation as the Church’s liturgy reveals it and enables us to live it” (CCC 1095). The liturgical year centers each member of the faithful on Christ and his mission left for us during our time on Earth. In our own families, we have our own celebrations and traditions. Similarly, the Catholic Church holds the liturgical year and all its traditions in high importance. Living out a liturgical life helps us to live with Christ each day. There are many ways for families or individuals to live liturgically. Some examples include celebrating patron saints' feast days, reading the daily readings, or decorating one's home for the full liturgical season. These are ways to incorporate the liturgical celebrations into daily practice.