The Church’s Liturgical Calendar

1.Liturgy & “Liturgical”.2.How the Church celebrates the Liturgy3.The Liturgical Calendar of the Church.

Prayer

•An Encounter…with God!

•A surge of the heart towards heaven!

1. “Liturgical” and Liturgy

Liturgy (Liturgical…)Liturgy is Prayer!

The Church - worshipping and glorifying God! - participating in the “work of God”!

“God’s work”

God sends his only Son to redeem us by His Life, Death and Resurrection.

Liturgy - the Church remembering and celebrating this redeeming work of God; we proclaim this and bear witness to it to the world!

2. How the Church remembers and celebrates this redeeming work of God?

The Liturgy of the Hours (Prayer of the People of God)

• Matins (early morning hours)

•Lauds (~6am) • Terce (~9am) • None (~3pm) • Sext (~12pm)

•Vespers (~6pm) • Compline (~9pm)

Throughout the

Day - everyday!

• Friday – Commemorating Jesus’ death on the Cross. Good Friday!

• Sunday –commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord. Easter!

Each Week –

every week!

• The 7 Sacraments Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist,

Reconciliation, Matrimony, Holy Order, Anointing.

• The Sacraments – they continue the work of Jesus Christ!

In the

Sacraments!

The Liturgical Calendar- an annual cycle of the mysteries of Christ, Mary and the Saints!

Time to ponder, wonder and immerse on pivotal moments in the life of Jesus Christ!

Throughout the

Year!

2. How we remember and celebrate? (cont’d)

Liturgical Colours

Liturgical Celebrations

Lectionary Cycle

Liturgical Celebrations

Memorials • St Andrew Dung-Luc 24Nov, • St Andrew Apostle 30Nov, • St John of the Cross 14Dec

Feasts • Feast of the Holy Family, • Baptism of the Lord, • Birth of Mary.

Solemnities • Easter • Christmas • Pentecost • Christ the King • Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Lectionary Cycle

Sundays •3 Readings and Responsorial Psalm •3-year cycle. A(2017): Mathew; B(2018): Mark; C(2019): Luke

Weekdays •2 Readings and Responsorial Psalm •2-year cycle 1.(2017) 2.(2018)

Eg. 12Nov2017 R1: Wis 6,12-16 Ps 62 R2: 1Th 4, 13-18 Go: Mt 25,1-13

• Advent: Purple • Christmas: White • Lent: Purple • Easter: White (Red for

Pentecost) • Ordinary Time: Green

Liturgical Colours

3. The Liturgical Calendar

From the time of the Mosaic Law-fixed feasts, e.g. Passover

• To commemorate the astonishing actions of God;

• To give thanks for them;• To teach new generations

to conform their conduct to them.

The Liturgical Seasons

ADVENT

LENT

Start - Dec

24Dec

ADVENTStart - Dec

3 to 23 Dec

24Dec to 7Jan

•Preparation for the coming of Christ -joyous, devout and expectant anticipation. •Personal: reconcile with God and neighbours. •External – house cleaning.

Advent

Christmas “And the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us!” Jn 1:14

•Thanksgiving celebration •Mass.

Christmastide

• Holy Family• Mary, Mother of God (S)• Epiphany (S)• Baptism of Our Lord

Ordinary Time 18Jan to 13Feb

• Reflect on the mysteries of Christ and

focuses on Christ’s earthly ministry.

Ordinary Time 1

A time for order and growth,

not boredom!

Baptism of Our Lord (8Jan18)

Celebration - Feast Days and Memorials eg

•St Vincent 22Jan •St John Bosco 31Jan •St Paul Miki 6Feb

Lent

14Feb to 28Mar

• Ash Wed (14Feb18) until • Holy Thursday

(29Mar18)

Penitential season • In Church: flowers,

music • Personal: Fasting,

Abstinence ,Sacrifice, Almsgiving. Lent

Holy Week

Palm Sunday Good FridayHoly Thursday Holy Saturday

Easter!

25Mar 29Mar 30Mar 31Mar

Easter the Lord is Risen!

If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless

and so is your faith. (1 Corinthians 15: 14)

Eastertide Easter Sunday -

Resurrection (1Apr18) Jn 20, Mt 28

Ascension Sunday (10May18) Mk 16

Pentecost Sunday (20May18) Jn 7,15,16

Ordinary Time 221May to 1Dec

•Trinity Sunday (S) – 27May •Corpus Christi (S) -3Jun •Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (S) 8Jun •Birth of John the Baptist (S) – 24Jun

Ordinary Time 2The mystery of Christ in all its fullness is celebrated and reflected upon.

•Transfiguration of the Lord – 6Aug •Assumption of BVM (S) -15Aug •Birthday of BVM – 8Sep •All Saints Day (S) – 1Nov •All Souls Day – 2Nov •Christ the King (S)-25Nov

A time for order and growth, not boredom!

Summary

So, finally, what do all these “remembering” and

“celebrating” mean to me as a follower of Jesus Christ?

May we suggest:

•We remember the Past – of God’s saving power; •We celebrate the Present – God continuing to save us; and •We look forward to the Future – to be with Christ eternally;

May we suggest:

•We get to know Him more dearly; follow Him more closely, serve Him more passionately.

• Finally, it is our PRAYER – encountering Christ every moment of our life; growing deeper in love for Him and for our neighbours!

Closing Prayer

We remember how You loved us to Your death,

and still we celebrate for You are with us here.

And we believe that we will see you,when you come in Your glory.

We remember, we celebrate, we believe.Amen.