11 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR: A SOURCE OF FAITH AND UNITY
❇️ WHAT IS IT?
THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR is a sacred Catholic practice that organizes the Church’s worship and commemorates key events in the life of Christ, providing a framework for spiritual growth and communal unity.
It invites believers to participate actively in the mysteries of salvation throughout the liturgical year.
Pope Francis tells us, “the Liturgical Calendar is a catechetical tool par excellence. It teaches us to live in communion with the Church, to contemplate Jesus, and to follow him.”
🌀 HISTORY
💡 Biblical Roots: Rooted in Biblical events, the Liturgical Calendar reflects the divine plan of salvation, beginning with Advent as a preparation for the birth of Christ and culminating in the celebration of Christ the King.
💡 Apostolic Tradition: The early Christians, inspired by the Holy Apostles, developed the Liturgical Calendar to guide the rhythm of worship, emphasizing the centrality of Christ in the life of the Church.
💡 Development of Liturgical Seasons: The Liturgical Calendar has evolved with distinct liturgical seasons, fostering a deepened understanding of the mysteries of faith.
In the Church, there are six Liturgical seasons:
- Advent: Prepares hearts for God’s ‘incarnational’ presence in our lives.
- Christmas: Celebrates God’s intervention and deepens our understanding of Emmanuel—God with us.
- Lent: Focuses on repentance and confronting the reality of sin, and the Mercy of God
- Holy Triduum: Centres on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Blessed Lord.
- Easter: Highlights God’s mighty power through Resurrection and the promise of new life with the coming of the Holy Spirit
- Ordinary Time: Encourages reflection on Jesus’ daily life and teachings for practical insights.
💡 Feast Days and Solemnities: The inclusion of feast days and solemnities, honouring saints and significant events, enriches the spiritual journey, fostering devotion and unity among believers.
💡 Second Vatican Council: The Council affirmed the significance of the Liturgical Calendar, encouraging active participation in the Liturgy as a means of encountering the living Christ.
📜 LEARN FROM SAINTS & TEACHINGS
🔶 St. Augustine: “The Church celebrates the mystery of its Lord throughout the course of the year. This mystery embraces the birth, the Passion, the Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ.”
🔶 St. Thomas Aquinas: “The celebration of feasts is a profession of the Christian faith, which teaches the great mysteries of Christ.”
🙏🏻 SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
🔷 Faith Formation: The Liturgical Calendar serves as a structured curriculum for the faithful, guiding them through the essential doctrines and mysteries of the Christian faith.
🔷 Communal Unity: By following the Liturgical Calendar, the Church collectively enters into the sacred mysteries…
… fostering a sense of unity and shared spiritual journey among believers worldwide.
🔷 Living the Gospel: Each Liturgical season invites believers to immerse themselves in the Gospel message, providing opportunities for personal and communal conversion.
🔷 Mystical Participation: The Liturgical Calendar allows believers to mystically participate in the redemptive events of Christ’s life, fostering a deeper connection with the divine.
🔷 Sacramental Grace: Liturgical seasons and celebrations are accompanied by specific graces, enriching the sacramental life of the Church and aiding in the sanctification of the faithful.
🔷 Lectionary: The Church’s Liturgical Calendar includes a Lectionary – a curated selection of Scripture readings for each liturgical season and occasion.
The Sunday readings are arranged into 3 Cycles: Cycle A (with most readings taken from St Mathew), Cycle B (with most readings taken from St Mark) and Cycle C (with most readings taken from St Luke). The Easter Season primarily has readings from St John.
The weekday readings are classified as Year 1 (for odd years: Eg 2023, 2025) and Year 2 (for even years: Eg 2024, 2026)
This arrangement ensures that as a People of God, we complete reading the entire Bible (major portions) over a three year period.
🌐 PRACTICAL TIPS
💠 Active Participation: Actively engage in liturgical celebrations and follow the Liturgical Calendar to deepen your understanding of the faith.
💠 Educate and Share: Educate fellow Catholics about the spiritual richness of the Liturgical Calendar, emphasizing its role in nurturing faith and unity.
💠 Liturgical Devotions: Incorporate Liturgical devotions into your personal prayer life, aligning your spiritual journey with the rhythms of the Church.
💠 Celebrate Feast Days: Embrace the celebration of feast days and solemnities, recognizing them as opportunities for joy, devotion, and communal worship.
💠 Seasonal Reflection: Use each Liturgical season as a time for spiritual reflection, allowing the themes of the season to guide your personal and communal prayer.
May The Liturgical Calendar be a source of spiritual nourishment and communal unity, guiding us to live the Catholic faith with deeper conviction and commitment.
❇️ Keep the faith!
✅ Live in love!
✳️ Deepen your hope!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
- Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India
reflectioncapsules@gmail.com
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