The Catholic liturgical year
The liturgical year is the calendar by which the Church celebrates, throughout the year, the mystery of Christ: his birth, his life, his death and his resurrection. It does not begin on January 1, but with Advent.
The liturgical seasons
| Season | What it is about |
|---|---|
| Advent | Four weeks of preparation for Christmas; a time of waiting and hope. |
| Christmas | Celebrates the birth of Jesus, from December 25 to the Baptism of the Lord. |
| Ordinary Time | The time of growth in faith; lived in two stretches across the year. |
| Lent | Forty days of conversion, prayer, fasting and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. |
| Paschal Triduum | The heart of the year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. |
| Easter | Fifty days celebrating the Resurrection, until Pentecost. |
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Ver App GratisThe liturgical colors
The priest's vestments change color according to the season or celebration:
- Violet: Advent and Lent (preparation and penance).
- White: Christmas, Easter and feasts of the Lord, the Virgin and non-martyr saints (joy and purity).
- Green: Ordinary Time (hope).
- Red: Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost and feasts of martyrs (the Passion and the Holy Spirit).
- Rose: only two Sundays a year (Gaudete in Advent and Laetare in Lent), as a foretaste of joy.
Why it matters
The liturgical year is not just a calendar: it is a way of living the faith to the rhythm of the life of Christ, accompanying each season with its readings, prayers and celebrations.
Frequently asked questions
When does the liturgical year begin? With the first Sunday of Advent, four Sundays before Christmas.
How long is Lent? Forty days, not counting Sundays, until the Paschal Triduum.
What color is used in Ordinary Time? Green.
Which is the most important season? The Paschal Triduum, the center of the whole liturgical year.
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