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The Liturgical Seasons

The Catholic Liturgical Seasons are all the Church seasons that are celebrated within the liturgical year by millions of Catholics throughout the world. The Church year runs in a circular rhythm that beautifully mimics the seasons in nature. But unlike nature that goes in a seemingly endless circle, the Liturgical year runs in a spiral, spiraling towards Jesus’ promised coming. The church year re-lives the life of Jesus.

• Advent

Catholics prepare for Jesus’ coming, not only remembering his breaking into the world at Christmas two thousand years age but his promise return.

• Christmas

The Christmas season lasts up until the Sunday after January 6th (Feast of the Epiphany). We celebrate God’s gracious love which draws God to come us.

• Ordinary Time

Ordinary time means numbered time and it encompasses all the time during the Church year that does not fall with the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent or Easter.

• Lent

Lent is the 40 days prior to Easter. Like Jesus’ 40 days of fasting and prayer in the desert and the Israelites’ 40 years preparing to enter the Promised Land, Catholic prepare to enter into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through prayer, penance, and alms giving we die to sin and selfishness, and rise to lives of love, compassion, and generosity.

Lent climaxes with Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Thursday. The three holiest days of the year are actually one continual celebration of Christ’ love and self-giving: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.

• Easter

Easter is the greatest Christian feast; it is the fulfillment of our faith as Christians. Through His Death, Christ destroyed our bondage to sin; through His Resurrection, He brought us the promise of new life, both in Heaven and on earth. It is celebrated for 40 days.

• Ordinary Time

The Church returns to ordered Sundays as we strive to live conversion and transformation.

Please visit the United States Conferences of Catholic Bishops for further suggestions and resources to facilitate your worship of Lent.