The Church year consists of six liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time after Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time after Pentecost. Seasons begin or end based on a movable feast and so some seasons vary in length from year to year, and vary as to the calendar dates. The following is a brief overview of the Catholic liturgical seasons: their durations, their purpose and focus, and the liturgical year colors.
Advent: First Sunday of Advent through December 24th
Advent begins the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Andrew, which is November 30th. Therefore Advent always falls sometime between November 28th and December 3rd, and lasts until the Nativity of the Lord. The season always has somewhere between 21 and 28 days. The liturgical colors of Advent are Purple and Rose, with Rose being used only on the third Sunday of Advent.
Christmas: December 25th through The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
The Christmas season begins with the celebration of the birth of Jesus, Christmas day, or as a vigil on Christmas Eve. The Feast of Christmas lasts 12 days, until Epiphany. However, the time from Epiphany until the Baptism of the Lord is also included in the Christmas season. Traditionally, Epiphany had been fixed to January 6th, and the Baptism celebrated on the octave of Epiphany, which was January 13th. In most countries, the Epiphany is now celebrated on the Sunday closest to January 6th, and the Baptism celebrated the following Sunday. The Christmas season is a time of rejoicing in the Incarnation. Theliturgical color of Christmas is white.
To be continued……………
“Awaiting the Love “ During Advent
The commemoration of Christ’s birth is one of the celebrations the Church holds most sacred; and the season of Advent is our time to prepare for it. It’s a time to remember Christ’s First Coming; to direct our hearts and minds to awaiting His Second Coming; and in many ways, a period of devout and joyful expectation, a time rekindle our love for Christ. This Advent, our parish will offer several opportunities for parishioners and their families help prepare for Christmas. They include:
- Volunteer to Light the Advent Wreath
At all weekend Masses during Advent, help is needed to light the Advent wreath at the beginning of each Mass. Please consider “signing-up” to help with the lighting. A “sign-up” poster is located in the main vestibule of the church. - Sunday—December 6th—7 pm
A “Festival of Lessons and Carols” will take place in church. It combines Readings, Music, Prayer, Reflections, and Meditations as a way to help all of us prepare for Christmas. The event is free to all who attend; and the music for the event will be provided by our St. Valentine choir. - Wednesday—December 9th – 7 pm
A Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place at St. Valentine church. This is an excellent way to prepare for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord – take time to go to confession.
We wish to encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to join you in participating; and use each event as a way to honor the Lord with your preparation for his coming at Christmas.
– St. Valentine Worship Commission