Liturgical Calendar
Definition Page
Seasons of the Liturgical Year
The seasons of the liturgical year begin with Advent, a time of
preparation for the Christmas season. The Christmas season
celebrates the birth of Jesus (on December 25) and continues until the Baptism
of Our Lord. This is followed by the first of two periods of Ordinary Time,
which continues until Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the
season of Lent, a time of penitence leading to the Paschal Triduum after the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. The Triduum is the three days before Easter.
Easter Sunday marks the start of the Easter season, which continues as a
time of celebration until Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost Sunday marks the start of
the second period of Ordinary Time, which continues until the Advent
season begins again. Each liturgical
season has a special color
significant to it.
Click here for the official
listing of Penitential Practices associated with these seasons.
Click here
for the official listing of Holy Days of Obligation in the United States.
Return to the top
Vestment
Colors
Vestment colors are used to represent the mood
of the Mass being celebrated. The color for the altar
cloth and the celebrant's sash will be of this color.
There are four standard vestment colors:
Violet - Represents Expectation, Purification, or
Penance. Used during Lent and Advent.
White (or Gold) - Represents Joy and Triumph. Used during the Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Christmas, as well as for Holy Days and Feast Days throughout the year.
Red - Represents Royalty, Fire, and Martyrdom. Used on special Feast Days and Holy Days throughout the year.
Green - A sign of Life and Growth. Represents Ordinary Time.
Other
colors may be substituted where traditionally
appropriate, if desired. Some typical examples are Black, used for
funerals, and Pink, used on the third Sunday of Advent.
Return to the top
Holy
Days of Obligation
Holy days of obligation are special feasts on
which Catholics who have reached the age of reason are seriously obliged to
assist at Mass and avoid unnecessary work.
Click
here for the official list of Holy Days in the United States.
See also Sunday Obligation below.
Sunday Obligation
One of the precepts of the Church is to keep holy the day of the Lord's
Resurrection; to worship God by participating in Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation; to avoid those activities that
would hinder renewal of soul and body, for example, needless work and business
activities, unnecessary shopping, and so forth.
Feasts, Memorials, Commemorations
and Solemnities
These are days which the Church has set aside as having special meaning.
There are several types of celebrations. Some are events in the life of Christ.
Some are days dedicated to a particular saint. There are three types of feast
days. Optional Feasts are not universally celebrated. Holy
Days of Obligation are days on which Catholics are required to attend
Mass. All other celebrations are celebrated, but Catholics are not obligated to
attend.
Fast and 
Abstinence
Fasting is restricting eating to one full meal and two
lighter meals in the course of a single day, and prohibits eating between
meals. Adults who have not yet reached their sixtieth year are bound by the
Canon Law to fast. Pregnant women and people who are sick are not obligated to
fast.
Abstinence is refraining from eating meat. People who have completed
their fourteenth year are bound by the Canon Law to abstain.
Anyone who feels that they cannot fulfil the law of abstinence or the law of
fasting should consult a parish priest or confessor.
Click here for the U.S.
Bishops' published rules re: fasting, abstinence, and other penitential practices.
Return
to the top
Liturgical Years
For Sundays and other special days throughout the church year, there are
three sets of readings assigned for the day. These readings are assigned to
Liturgical Years A, B, and C. Years which are evenly divisible by 3 are
assigned year C, such as 1995. Year A follows year C, Year B follows Year A,
and Year C follows Year B. Bear in mind that Liturgical Years start on the
first Sunday of Advent of the previous year, so December 1, 1996 started
Liturgical Year B.
Liturgical Cycles
For weekdays in ordinary time and other special days throughout the
church year, there are two sets of readings for the day. These readings are
assigned to Liturgical Cycles I and II. Odd years are assigned cycle I, and
even years are assigned cycle II. Bear in mind that Liturgical Cycles start on
the first Sunday of Advent of the previous year, so December 1, 1996 began
Liturgical Cycle I.
Commons
For many celebrations throughout the year, readings are assigned from
various Commons. Commons are groups of readings appropriate for a type
of celebration. These readings include First Readings, Responsorial Psalms, and
Gospel Readings. One reading may be selected from each group for use during the
Mass.
Often, more than one type of Common is appropriate for a celebration. In these
cases, readings may come from any of the appropriate commons. Alternately, the
readings from the regular liturgical year or cycle for the current day (the proper of
the Season) can normally be used.
Easter is a special season for Commons. During Easter, a separate set of
readings is assigned for the First Readings.
There are also subcategories within the Commons. These are readings which are
more appropriate for some celebrations than others. An example of this is the
subcategory of Popes within the Common of Pastors.
There are seven Commons for the liturgy, as follows:
-
Common
for the Dedication of a Church
-
Common
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Common
of Martyrs
-
Common
of Pastors
-
Common
of Doctors of the Church
-
Common
of Virgins
-
Common
of Holy Men and Women (Common of Saints)
Proper
Many celebrations throughout the year have specific readings assigned.
These readings are called the Proper of the celebration, and are usually
chosen over the Commons, as they are more appropriate
for the specific Celebration.
Additionally, each day of the year has a set of readings appropriate for the
day and season.
These readings are called the Proper of the Season.
Return
to the top