For the Catholic Church, scheduling a liturgical calendar is an essential way to ensure church members have the opportunity to remember and commemorate important events in both the life of Jesus as well as the history of the church. There are four liturgical seasons that are celebrated each year along with Ordinary Time, which includes all days of the year outside the seasonal celebrations.
The Start of the Liturgical Calendar
Advent is the start of the Catholic Church’s liturgical year. On the church calendar, the season of Advent always comprises the four Sundays before December 25, Christmas day. During these weeks, the Catholic faithful are encouraged to prepare their hearts to receive Jesus as he comes into the world as the incarnation. Symbolism used during the season often recalls the concept of God’s chosen people coming out of the darkness and into the light that is Christ.
Although there is no formal requirement that modern Catholics fast during the season, fasting and abstinence were historically a part of Advent preparation. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that the celebration of Ember Days, traditional days of fasting and abstinence, were held on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after December 13.
Today, families often observe the season of Advent by engaging in acts of charity such as collecting food and toys for those in need and participating in special prayers. Many Catholic homes feature an Advent wreath, on which one candle is lit for each week of the season. Families may also set out nativity scenes although baby Jesus is often not added until Christmas arrives.
Christmas as a Holy Season
Unlike the secular observance of Christmas that starts weeks early and culminates on Christmas day, the Catholic celebration begins on December 25 and lasts approximately two weeks. The liturgical season begins with a celebration of The Nativity of the Lord and concludes with the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord.
The Christmas season is a time of joy in appreciation for the gift of Jesus who was sent by God to redeem mankind for its sinfulness. Many modern Catholic families combine the religious celebration of Christmas with secular traditions such as the arrival of Santa Claus.
Christmas day also marks the start of the Christmas Octave, an eight day period that ends with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1. Twelve days after Christmas, the traditional observance of the Epiphany occurs. On this date, the Catholic faithful remember the arrival of the three wise men who came to pay homage to the baby Jesus. In honor of the gifts brought by the wise men, many families will also exchange small gifts on the Epiphany.
Lent: A Penitential Season on the Church Calendar
Perhaps more readily recognized as a penitential season than Advent, Lent is a 40 day period of fasting, prayer and almsgiving in anticipation of the remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The season mirrors the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before starting his public ministry.
During Lent, church members 18- 59 are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as their health permits. According to church guidelines, fasting is defined as having one full meal and two smaller meals (which combined do not exceed the size of the full meal) each day. Eating between meals is not permitted. In addition, those ages 14 and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all other Fridays during the Lenten season.
Lent is a somber season in which Catholics reflect upon their sins and shortcomings as they strive to overcome them and draw closer to God. The season ends with the Holy Triduum, three of the most sacred days on the church calendar.
Holy Thursday celebrates the Last Supper when Jesus is believed to have instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist. Good Friday commemorates the death of the Lord while Holy Saturday is intended as a quiet day to prepare for Easter and reflect upon God’s gift of redemption.
For the Catholic Church, scheduling the Lenten season depends upon the phases of the moon. As explained by This Rock magazine, Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. In the event that the first full moon occurs on the equinox, the church schedule will place Easter on the following Sunday. The date of Easter is then used to calculate the start of Lent.
Celebrating Easter on the liturgical calendar
Of all the church seasons, Easter is the longest and the most joyous. After 40 days of self-denial in Lent, Easter arrives as the most significant day of the year for Catholic Christians. For on this day, church members remember the resurrection of the Lord. After dying for the sins of mankind, Christians believe that he rose from the dead and opened the gates of heaven for all to receive the gift of salvation.
Easter gifts and Easter candy baskets are often exchanged on Sunday which marks the start of the Easter Octave. Families may make special meals and indulge in treats that were off-limits during Lent. The entire Easter season lasts 50 days and ends with the Feast of Pentecost.
Pentecost remembers the events recorded in the Acts of the Apostles when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of Jesus. According to the Biblical account, they were given the courage to boldly proclaim the Word of God as well as the ability to speak in foreign tongues. The Catholic Church, which claims its authority is based upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit, recognizes Pentecost as the formal start of the church.
Throughout the course of the church schedule, the Catholic faithful have the opportunity to enter into the many mysteries of Jesus and his incarnation. As described in the document Sacrosanctum concilium, issued by the Second Vatican Council, “in the course of the year…unfolds the whole mystery of Christ from his Incarnation and Nativity through his Ascension, to Pentecost and the expectation of the blessed hope of the coming of the Lord.”
Sources:
Mershman, F. (1909). Ember Days. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from New Advent:
Mershman, F. (1907). Advent. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from New Advent:
Shrines.org
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1163
Maryalene LaPonsie - Maryalene LaPonsie has been writing professionally for nearly 15 years on topics including religion and politics, education and ...
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