. However, a separate celebration of the Four other feasts of the Lord are observed only the mystery of Christ himself. Pope John Paul II Annunciation was known in Rome in the second in the West: Trinity Sunday (the Sunday after is now famous for having beatified and canonised half of the r century. Marian devotion caused ), Corpus Christi (the Thursday or more Christian examples of holiness than all his INFORM a change in its title to "the Annunciation of the Sunday after Trinity), the Sacred Heart of Jesus predecessors combined, so the Church finds itself Blessed Virgin Mary", but in the Church's calendar (the Friday following Corpus Christi Sunday), and once again with an ever-expanding Sanctoral faith & life matters reform of 1969 the feast regained its original title. Christ the King (last Sunday of the ). Cycle. The feast is celebrated on the 25'h March, nine Rather than recalling events in the life of Christ and months before the birth of Christ. the Church, these feasts focus on mysteries of the Alpha and Omega, faith: the triune nature of God, the Eucharist, the beginning and end : saving love of Christ, and his universal kingship. not so ordinary But if all this calendar development says anything, And then the saints it is this: the Church is alive, constantly growing The weeks outside the seasons of Advent and come marching in! in its understanding of the truths of the Faith (as , and Easter, are named in Latin evidenced in the expansion of the Temporal Cycle) per annum, or "through the year". It is commonly The first saints to be commemorated by the and constantly renewing itself by producing more known as "Ordinary Time", which is unfortunate Church were the martyrs. Keeping the ancient and more models of Christian holiness (as seen in since it is anything but ordinary. family customs connected with death, except our multitude of feasts of the Sanctoral Cycle). any that were incompatible with their faith, the While the other seasons of the liturgical year The Church's categories of celebrations — from the early Christians gathered at the martyrs' tombs commemorate events in the life of Christ, Ordinary greatest solemnities like Easter and Christmas, on certain days to pray. Originally they, like their Time presents us with Jesus' deeds and teachings to the lesser feasts like the Presentation and ancestors, brought food and drink and shared a during his public ministry. During this season, funeral meal in memory of the dead; this grew into Transfiguration, to the stream of memorials of the Catholics grow in their understanding of the saints, both obligatory and optional — tells us that the tradition of celebrating the Eucharist on or near Christian life; thus the liturgical colour is green, the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ only the tombs. The day of death was chosen as the reminding us of growth. reflects the eternal, day-in and day-out nature of "birthday" of the martyr into eternal life. her Founder. Ordinary Time has 34 weeks, beginning after the The end of the age of persecution in 313 AD Baptism of Christ and going up to Advent. It is Advent ties our Church time together: it is both a presented a problem: how could Christians reach interrupted by Lent and Easter Time. looking backward to Christ's historical birth 2000 the heights of holiness, now that they no longer years ago, and a looking forward to his coming had the opportunity to shed their blood for Christ? again at the end of historical time. And that, in a Feasts of the Lord in The life of ascetics — hermits, monks and virgins nutshell, is the story of the Church's year. As the — became a new form of martyrdom or "witness" to Ordinary Time priest solemnly intones while marking the Paschal Christ, and when these stalwarts died, they often Candle: Both Eastern and Western Churches celebrate received the liturgical honours once reserved to in common three feasts of the Lord: the those who died for Christ. Christ yesterday and today, Transfiguration, the Triumph of the Cross, and the the beginning and the end, Dedication of the Church. Bishops and those who suffered, but did not die, for Christ were likewise given honours after Alpha and Omega; According to one ancient tradition, the death, once persecution abated. As time went all time belongs to him, Transfiguration of Jesus took place 40 days on, various other categories of "saints" — meaning and all the ages; before his crucifixion. Thus this feast on the 6th "holy ones" — were added to local calendars, with August takes place 40 days before the feast of the Church eventually assigning dates to these to him be glory and power, the Triumph of the Cross on the 14th September. celebrations. Religious founders, missionaries, through every age for ever. Historically, the feast of the Transfiguration began doctors (teachers and writers of the Faith), priests, Amen. as a commemoration of the dedication of the great deacons and married and single laity all found a church on Mount Tabor, where Jesus appeared place in the Church year. in glory to Peter, James and John. The Triumph Questions for discussion of the Cross recalls both St Helen's finding of the We can't fail to mention the development of the 1. What struck you most in reading this article? remains of the True Cross on Mount Calvary, and Church's understanding of Mary's role in the life the recovery of the precious relics of the Cross in of Christ and his followers. From her original feast 2. The early Christians "could not live" without 630 AD, after having been captured by the Persians of the 1h January, a variety of other celebrations celebrating the Lord's day. What can we do to 111 1 and kept by them for 16 years. of Mary have come down to us: her Immaculate restore the importance of Sunday in the minds Conception, Birth, Presentation, Visitation, of Catholics, beginning in our own families? The Feast of the Dedication reminds us of the Sorrows, Assumption and Queenship — among 41)/00 6 Jewish feast of Hanukkah or Dedication (Jn 10:22), others. 3. Which feast days do you most look forward to? when the Temple of Jerusalem was reconsecrated What is special about them for you? after the victory of the Maccabees over the There have been several attempts down the A A Syrians in 165 BC. The Church adopted this centuries to "reform" the calendar by removing 4. The article says that the gradual development 11 feast to commemorate on the 13'h September the saints who have only a limited or localised appeal, of the calendar shows how the Church is alive, dedication of the twin basilicas of the Martyrium only to be swamped by new examples of holiness. constantly growing in its understanding of the and the Anastasis (Martyrdom and Resurrection) For example, the Council of Trent swept away a Faith and in producing new models of holiness. Do you find it easy to think of the Church in this One Day at a Time. on Mount Calvary. By the 11th century, the feast plethora of saints' days, reducing them to less than way? was transferred to the 9'" November to recall the 200. But by 1900 there were 145 more added. In LENS dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the official seat 1969, the reforms of Vatican Council II saw another of the Bishop of Rome, as a celebration of the unity "culling", reducing the number of saints' days to Fr Timothy Deeter is the Director of the Liturgy of the Church around Peter's successor. less than 180 in order to focus more clearly on Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney. THE CHURCH YEAR Published six times a year, INfORM is available from: INFORM - 50c per copy (minimum order: 10 copies per Catholic Adult Education Centre, Sydney issue) Single subscription $10 per year within Australia, 6 Locked Bag 888 Silverwater DC NSW 1811 issues annually, or with the newsletter of the Catholic Adult Many Catholics have only a general understanding of such seasons as Advent and Lent, Christmas Tel (02) 9643 3660 Fax: (02) 9643 3669 Education Centre $15 per year. Single copy of every back and Easter. In this article Fr Timothy Deeter explains the meaning of the different seasons and Email: [email protected] C AI HOLIC issue of INFORM still in print - $40 per set. ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE feast days, and how the Church calendar developed over time. Published with ecclesiastical approval .02007 CAEC • EDITOR: Fr John Flader • LAYOUT: Francis Flores Talking about calendars Anulinus: 'We must celebrate the Lords day! It Sunday of the Easter season, itself is "the octave is a law for us: A church reader named Emeritus of octaves," an octave being Judaism's traditional As early as 386 AD this feast was celebrated in Jerusalem as "the meeting of our great God and When we think of the calendar, it is the civil year agreed: "Yes, it was in my house that we celebrated eight-day period of celebrating a great holy day. Beginning with the Easter as its source of light, Saviour Jesus Christ with Simeon the Just when that usually comes to mind: January through the Lord's day. We cannot live without celebrating Since the ancients regarded seven as a perfect whole liturgical the latter took him in his arms.' A procession with December, with New Year's Day at the start. the Lord's day!" And the young maiden Victoria the new age of the Resurrection fills the number, and the Easter season is made up of seven candles was added around 450 AD, to dramatise proudly added, "I attended the meeting because I weeks of seven days each, Pentecost Sunday year with its brilliance. Gradually, on either side of this But accountants and businesses work by the fiscal am a Christian!" Simeon's acclamation of Jesus as "a light of year, July through June. And schools operate along came to symbolise the completion of time found source, the year is transfigured by the liturgy. It really is a revelation for the nations" (Lk 2:32). an academic calendar with variable starting dates, in eternity. Thus St Basil the Great (329-379) says, Like Epiphany, the feast has several meanings: it depending upon the state or even the hemisphere Easter becomes its "All of Pentecost reminds us of the resurrection "year of the Lord's favour.' recalls not only the Presentation of the Lord in the in which one lives. which we await in the other world" (On the Holy own celebration Temple in fulfilment of the Law of Moses, but also Spirit, 27:66). Catechism of the Catholic Church 1168 The Church lives by a liturgical calendar which the end of Mary's period of ritual impurity after the It wasn't until the early 2nd century that a specific begins with the season of Advent, usually starting The birth of a son (thus the name "Purification of Mary"). in late November. Despite all the Christmas hype feast of Easter began to be celebrated in some fasting and penitential prayer each week. Christmas and Epiphany: Due to the blessing and procession with candles, it that the shops urge upon us, and although the places. The Church of Rome waited until the has also been called "Candlemas" (Candle Mass). second half of that century before it accepted the At the same time as the development of Pentecost Friday, of course, commemorated the Lord's death. everyone's favourites Advent and Christmas scriptures focus on the Sunday as a feast day, the sacred three-day beginning of our salvation, the key observance of idea. Wednesday was considered the day when Judas commemoration of Christ crucified, buried and Only in the 411' century did a celebration of the Lord's Advent: looking the liturgical year is not Christmas. Its Easter. And arranged to betray Jesus. Saturday was variously Two ways of calculating Easter arose. The risen made its first appearance. seen as the Sabbath, the day of Christ's burial, coming amongst us find a place in the liturgical year. the celebration of Easter grew out of the weekly Churches of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) made the backward and forward and the vigil of the Sunday celebration of the The Roman civil calendar of 354 AD notes the 25"' observance of the original feast day: Sunday. feast coincide with the Jewish Passover. But the Originally these three days, the "Triduum°, comprised Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Eucharist. December as the "Birthday of the Unconquered Rome was celebrating a season of spiritual other Churches waited until the following Sunday. century, but Sunday. Gradually the celebration of the Lord's Sun", followed by this announcement: "Christ was preparation for Christmas by the 601 Out of order? This was the custom of the Roman Church, and it The Wednesday, Friday and Saturday before Supper on Holy Thursday evening became a born in Bethlehem of Judea'. it had already found a home in Gaul and Spain became the rule for all communities by the start of Easter Sunday became the nucleus of our Lenten fixture, and the Triduum was adjusted to begin on by the end of the 4'h century. Originally lasting One would expect a study of the Church year to the 3rd century. season, which was brief but very intense; only It is thought that Christmas was first celebrated Holy Thursday night and end with the Easter Vigil for three weeks, it was seen as a preparation for follow the normal pattern of the seasons and bread and water were taken as nourishment. The in Rome about 330, and it was localised on the In 325 AD the Council of Nicaea fixed Easter as on Holy Saturday night. baptisms that would be celebrated on Epiphany. feasts: Advent preparing for Christmas, followed fast was gradually extended to the other days of Vatican Hill where St Peter's Basilica had recently the Sunday following the first full moon after the As Christmas grew in importance, Advent came to by feasts of Mary the Mother of God, Epiphany, that week, which was called "Great Week" or "Holy been built by the Emperor Constantine. Thus (northern) spring equinox; thus Easter always falls In the Church's calendar as we know it today, the be a time of expectation for that feast of the Lord's Baptism of the Lord, and the Presentation of the Paschal or Easter Triduum is the most sacred time in Week'. the original purpose of Christmas was to direct Lord. Then Lent preparing for Easter, followed by between the 22nd March and the 2e" April. birth. It soon developed into a time of expectation the liturgical year. Interestingly, these three days — to Christ the homage which the Roman people of the Lord's glorious return at the end of time. feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost. Easter is the centrepiece of the Church year, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday of — are During the 4'h century, a three-week preparation used to offer on that same hill to various Roman for Easter became the norm, beginning on what is What is presented here, however, is the historical all other feasts and seasons radiate from it. The not holy days of obligation. However, they are the divinities, including "the Unconquered Sun". Today the Church includes both themes: the now Laetare (Rejoice!) Sunday, our 4'h Sunday of or Second Coming (first Sunday), then development of the liturgical calendar, attempting dates of most of them are determined each year by holiest and most important of our days, and their parousia Lent. Christ is "the Sun of justice" (Mal 4:2) and "the Light the preaching of St John the Baptist announcing to show the evolution of our year from its nucleus the date of Easter. observance is strongly encouraged. of the world" (Jn 8:12), so it is clear that the choice of Christ's coming into history (second and third of Sunday to its expansion of seasons and feasts Sometime between 354 and 384 AD, the fast of the 25'h December for Christmas ("Christ's Mass') Sundays), and the Virgin Mary's preparation for the in what is called the Temporal Cycle (cycle of times Ascension of the Lord Pentecost: bringing 40 days came to Rome, perhaps influenced by was intended to combat paganism. It also suited birth of Christ in Bethlehem (fourth Sunday). or seasons). Then the Sanctoral Cycle (cycle of a similar observance that had begun in Egypt at Constantine, who wanted to bring the pagans and Easter to a climax Originally the Church of Jerusalem celebrated the saints) will be examined. the end of the 3'd century. This fast was seen less Christians of his empire together in peace. He not Advent always has four Sundays but its length Ascension of Jesus into heaven on the afternoon as a preparation for Easter than as an imitation only approved the celebration of Christmas, but varies, depending on the day of the week on which From the early 3'd century, the celebration of Easter of Pentecost Sunday. But most other Churches Sunday: the original of Christ's 40-day fast in the desert after his also decreed in 321 AD that the first day of the Christmas falls. was continued for a period of 50 days — in Greek, observed it on the day suggested by the Acts of the baptism. week (both the Day of the Sun and the Day of the feast day pentekoste. It took another 100 years before the Apostles: the 401" day after Easter (Acts 1:3), which Lord) would be a holiday throughout his realm. Mary, Mother of God 50111 day itself became a special observance which is a Thursday. Some places have recently moved Jesus linked fasting to prayer and almsgiving (Mt For the early Christians, every Sunday was a we know as Pentecost Sunday. this observance to the Sunday before Pentecost, 6:1-18). Once the catechumenate (program of Epiphany {"the manifestation") is of Eastern origin, celebration of the Easter event. It was on "the first An Eastern custom whereby relatives and friends to enable more people to celebrate this event and instruction of converts) was well-organised in the the V' January being the day for celebrations of the day of the week" (Mt 28:1; Mk 16:9; Lk 24:1; Jn On that day the Church recalls the outpouring of visit and congratulate a new mother naturally gave acclaim Jesus who is seated at the right hand of 4th century, this 40-day period offered an opportune winter solstice in Egypt and Arabia. By the mid-4'" 20:1) that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead. the Spirit upon the assembled disciples, and the rise to a feast in honour of the Blessed Virgin the Father. time to conduct the final weeks of preparation of century it was being celebrated in Rome and Gaul, start of their ministry of preaching the saving Name Mary. At first it was celebrated on the day after It was also on Easter Sunday that Jesus revealed candidates for Baptism during the Easter Vigil. and it had a complex evolution with layers of events of Jesus. Christmas, called by the Syrians the feast of the himself to the two disciples at Emmaus "in the and meanings. Lent Congratulation of the Mother of God. By the 7`n breaking of the bread" (Lk 24:35). On that Sunday The Easter season comes to its conclusion on Meanwhile, penitents who had been excluded This feast variously commemorated the birth of century this feast had shifted to the octave day of he appeared to the assembled disciples and ate Pentecost Sunday, echoing the words of Scripture: As early as the end of the V century, the Didache, from receiving Holy Communion for various Christ, the adoration of the shepherds and the wise Christmas, the 1" January. with them (Lk 24:41-43). Jesus gave the gift of the "When the fifty days were completed . ." (Acts a book that describes liturgical practices in the offences were readmitted to the Eucharistic assembly at the Easter Vigil in some Churches, men, Herod's slaughter of the Holy Innocents, the Spirit and the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the 2:1). In fact, St Hilary of Poitiers (315-367) says early Church, speaks of Wednesdays and Fridays However, as with the Epi phany and the Presentation, or on Holy Thursday in Rome. Thus Lent took on Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, and the wedding apostles on Easter Sunday evening (Jn 20:21-23). that the entire Easter season is 'a week of weeks" as being fast days. Rome then added Saturday there was a bit too much to celebrate: the octave the character of preparation for this reconciliation. feast at Cana. Today, the Eastern Churches focus (Instruction on the Psalms), seven weeks of as a further fast day, in preparation for the Sunday day, New Year's Day, Mary's motherhood, and The tradition of gathering on the weekly anniversary Today, communal celebrations of the sacrament of on the Lord's Baptism in their Epipha ny ce leb ratio ns, continual celebration of the mystery of Christ's celebration of the Eucharist. Soon all of Christian also the circumcision and naming of Jesus on the of the Easter event began as early as the Sunday Penance, with individual confession and absolution, while the Western Church commemorates the visit resurrection. And Pentecost Sunday, the eighth antiquity without exception kept these three days of eighth day of his life. Recently, the day regained following the Resurrection: "Eight days later, his are a feature of Lent in many parishes. of the Magi, with a separate observance of the its original name: Mary, Mother of God. But the disciples were again in the house . . Jesus came Baptism on a day after Epiphany. The feast of the Gospel for the day remains that of the circumcision and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with All of these developments have come down to Baptism concludes the Christmas season. and naming of Jesus. And Pope Paul VI made it a you"' (Jn 20:26-27). The Church, "in the course of the year, ... unfolds the us as the Lent we know today: a 40-day period of prayer, self-denial and charity, beginning on day of prayer for world peace. So it retains multiple So began the connection of each Sunday with whole mystery of Christ from his Incarnation and Nativity Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday. The Presentation layers of meaning. the memory and presence of the crucified and through his Ascension, Pentecost and the Sundays are not included, since they are never of the Lord risen Christ, and apparently the early Christian to expectation days of penance. During this season catechumens Annunciation of the Lord community was very faithful to this observance. of the blessed hope of the coming of the Lord." prepare for the sacraments of initiation and most of This day formerly marked the official end of The Western Church celebrates the Annunciation by When 31 men and 18 women were arrested for the baptised approach the priest for reconciliation, . While it is still linked to Christmas in reading the Gospel account of the Angel Gabriel's illegal assembly in Carthage, North Africa in 304, moving toward the intense Triduum celebration of its historical context, it is now outside the Christmas Catechism of the Catholic Church 1194 announcement to Mary on the fourth Sunday of the priest Saturninus declared to the proconsul the Lord's passion, death and resurrection. season.

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