Liturgy and the Liturgical Year

Advent Season

begins the liturgical year four Sundays before Christmas; it's a time of preparation for the coming of Christ

Christmas Season

lasts twelve days, beginning with Christmas Day, Dec. 25 and concluding with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Lenten Season

Begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts forty days, beginning six Sundays and one Wednesday before Easter. Special Season when we remember that Jesus suffered, died and rose to new life.

Easter Triduum

The three-day liturgy that is the Church's most solemn celebration of the Paschal Mystery remembering the Lord's Supper, Christ's passion and death and his resurrection. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday

Easter Season

lasts fifty days, beginning with Easter Sunday and ending with the feast of Pentecost

Ordinary Time

made up of the days between Christmas and Lent and the days between Easter and Advent.

green

color of ordinary time

purple

color for Advent and Lent

red

color of the Easter Triduum

white

color of the Easter Season

Liturgical Calendar

seasons and feasts of the Church year to mark events in the life and Paschal mystery of Christ as well as the lives of Mary and the saints

Eucharist

From the Greek for "thanksgiving"; also called the Mass or Lord's Supper. It is the principal sacramental celebration of the Church, established by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which the mystery of salvation through participation in the sacrificial Death and glorious Resurrection of Christ is renewed and accomplished

Sunday

most important day of the week because it's the day of Jesus' Resurrection; day of joy and rest from work for the Christian family

Easter duty

the church law that requires us to receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season; all Catholics who are able to receive Communion are obligated to do so

assembly

the people God calls together to celebrate the liturgy

liturgy

means “work of the people” and requires our participation

Mass

comes from Latin, missio, meaning “dismissal”

symbol

something visible that puts us in touch with something that is real but invisible such as a diploma.

Sunday

most important day in the Christian calendar; remembers the day that Jesus rose from the dead; holy day of obligation; known as the Lord’s Day

Lord’s Prayer

example of Jesus’ personal prayer