Our Catholic liturgical calendar offers us the opportunity to explore and reflect upon different aspects of our Catholic faith and history of our Church each year.
The Catholic New Year’s celebration begins earlier than most: Our Church year begins at the start of Advent, which begins in late November-early December. This is a period of waiting and preparation, as we prepare for the coming of the Lord at Christmas. There are four Sundays in Advent, and it concludes on December 24.
We celebrate Christ’s coming with Christmas on December 25. The Feast of Christmas lasts twelve days, until the Epiphany, which in the readings is marked by the visit of the Magi, or the Wise Men. However, the Christmas season lasts an additional week, through the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.
When the Christmas season comes to a close, we enter into Ordinary Time, which takes us from Christ’s childhood through the early parts of His ministry.
Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving when we are called to repent and return to the Lord with all our hearts. The season is 40 days—not including Sundays—and begins with Ash Wednesday. On this day, we receive a cross of ashes on our foreheads and are reminded that from dust we came, and to dust we will return. The 40 days is representative of the time Jesus was tested by Satan in the desert prior to beginning His ministry. The final Sunday of Lent is Palm Sunday, when we enter Holy Week and receive palms in remembrance of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On Holy Thursday of this week, we remember the Passover Christ shared with His disciples. At Holy Name of Jesus, this is marked by the beginning of a watchfire that is tended from the conclusion of the Holy Thursday liturgy through Easter Vigil. On Good Friday, we commemorate the Lord’s Passion—His suffering and death on the cross. Holy Saturday is a day of waiting until Easter Vigil Saturday evening, when we celebrate Jesus’ passage from death to life.
The Easter season begins with Easter Vigil the evening of Holy Saturday and continues until Pentecost. This is perhaps our most joyous season, as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. The season lasts 50 days and at Mass, we recount the risen Christ’s visits to the Apostles, Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, and on Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.
After Pentecost until the next liturgical year begins in Advent, we enter into our longest period of Ordinary Time. During this time, we focus on Christ’s reign and prepare for His second coming. The final Sunday of this Ordinary Time, the Feast of Christ the King, is representative of His reign.