The Church’s Liturgical
Year
• The liturgical year is the name we give to the
Church’s year. It is our way of celebrating the
mystery of Christ from season to season.
The Liturgical Calendar
Advent
• Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year. It is the
time of preparation for the celebration for the
Lord’s first coming at his birth.
• The Advent season begins four Sundays before
December 25th and ends at the Christmas Eve Vigil
Mass.
• The traditional color of the vestments and
decorations for the days of Advent is purple.
Christmas
• We celebrate the birth of Jesus and the joyous
events associated with it.
• It is the period from Jesus’ birth to the beginning of
his public ministry.
• The Christmas season begins at the Christmas Eve
Vigil Mass and ends on the Feast of the Baptism of
the Lord.
• The primary color for the season is white. Gold is also
used.
Lent
• The season of Lent begins Ash Wednesday. During
Lent we remember that Jesus suffered, died, and
rose to new life to save us from sin and to give us
new life in the Kingdom of God.
• The color for Lent is purple.
The Easter Triduum
• The Easter Triduum is the Church’s greatest and
most important celebration. The word Triduum,
means “three days”.
• During Holy Thursday evening, Good Friday and
Holy Saturday, until Easter Sunday evening- we
remember and celebrate in the liturgy, the
suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• The color for Good Friday is red. The other color for
the other days is white.
Easter
• The season of Easter begins Easter Sunday evening
and continues until Pentecost Sunday, fifty days
later.
• We also celebrate Christ’s Ascension into Heaven.
• The color for the Easter season is white, while
Pentecost’s color is red and signifies the descent of
the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.
Ordinary Time
• During this season we remember and celebrate the
teaching, stories, and events of Jesus’ life.
• The periods of this season occur between the
Christmas and Lenten seasons and after the Easter
season until Advent.
• The liturgical color of this season is green, a sign of
life and hope.