Catholic Liturgical Calendar

There is 6 season in the liturgical calendar which are Advent, Christmas, Lent, Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time. Advent (30 November or on the Sunday that is closest to this date) marks the beginning of the Catholic liturgical calendar and the Solemnity of Christ the King closes the liturgical year.

Advent begins on First Sunday of Advent through 24 December. Liturgical colours of Advent are Purple and Rose, with Rose being used only on the third Sunday of Advent.

Christmas begins on 25 December through The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The liturgical colour of Christmas is white. The liturgical colour of Ordinary Time is green, however, as in all seasons, other appropriate colours are worn on particular feast days.

Ordinary Time I (Ordinary Time after the Baptism) begins on the Monday after the Feast of the Baptism through Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday before Ash Wednesday). The liturgical colour of Ordinary Time is green; however, as in all seasons, other appropriate colours are worn on particular feast days.

Lent (inclusive Paschal Triduum) begins on Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday. The liturgical colours of Lent are violet or purple. the colour rose is used on Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday during Lent). The colour red is used on Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday), and on Good Friday. White or violet is worn on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday.

Paschal Triduum is Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Easter begins on Easter Vigil though Pentecost Sunday. The liturgical colours of Easter are white, for most days, and red for Pentecost.

Ordinary Time I (Ordinary Time after Pentecost) begins on the Monday day after Pentecost Sunday through the Solemnity of Christ the King. The liturgical colour of Ordinary Time is green; however, as in all seasons, other appropriate colours are worn on particular feast days.

Advent ~ 4 weeks of preparation for Christmas.

Christmas ~ Birth of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.

Holy Family ~ Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Holy Family of Nazareth the proper to the Christian. family.

Mary the Mother of God (1 January) ~ Divine and virginal motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Epiphany ~ Christ's manifestation of Himself to the world.

Baptism of the Lord ~ Jesus' baptism by John in the river Jordan.

Ordinary Time I

Lent 

Ash Wednesday

Passion (Palm) Sunday

Paschal Triduum (Easter Sacred Triduum)

Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

Easter

Easter Vigil ~ The Resurrection of Christ.

Easter Sunday ~ Celebrate the Resurrection.

Second to Sixth Sundays after Easter

Ascension of the Lord ~ Seventh Sunday after Easter, the entry of Jesus’ humanity into Divine glory in God’s heavenly Kingdom, 40 days after His Glorious Resurrection.

Pentecost Sunday ~ Marks the end of Easter season, the fiftieth day after Easter. Commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, the Church's foundation, and the beginning of its mission to all nations and peoples. 

Ordinary Time II

Trinity Sunday ~ honouring the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, unite as One eternal God.

Body and Blood of Christ ~ recounts the events of the Last Supper when Jesus changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood.

Ordinary Time II (part 2)

Solemnity of Christ the King ~ the supreme authority of Christ over his creation especially human beings and their institutions.

Liturgical Calendar 2012 - 2013

The Epiphany is the high point of Christmas and the fulfillment of Advent. It concentrates entirely on the coming of the Magi and their adoration of their new-found King. Epiphany means manifestation. Celebrates the manifestation of of the majesty and divinity of the newborn Savior, our Lord Christ Jesus to the whole world, after being made known to the shepherds of Bethlehem, and is revealed to the Magi who have come from the East to adore Him. We recognized and acknowledged the Infant as the Redeemer and King of the world, thus the Epiphany is an affirmation of universal salvation.

Three miracles glorify this sacred day, so that He might become our Redeemer.

• the star led the Magi to the crib.
• the wedding feast at Cana where water was changed into wine
• Christ willed that John baptize Him in the Jordan.

Matthew 3:17, And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

"By becoming man in Mary’s womb, the Son of God did not only come for the People of Israel, represented by the Shepherds of Bethlehem, but also for the whole of humanity, represented by the Magi.....

We must open ourselves to the certainty that God is almighty love that takes nothing away, that does not threaten; on the contrary he is the Only One who can give us the possibility of living to the full, of experiencing true joy.......
God’s criteria differ from human criteria. God does not manifest himself in the power of this world but in the humility of his love, the love that asks our freedom to be welcomed in order to transform us and to enable us to reach the One who is Love......
Dear brothers and sisters, let us allow ourselves to be guided by the star that is the word of God, let us follow it in our lives, walking with the Church in which the Word has pitched his tent. Our road will always be illumined by a light that no other sign can give us. And we too shall become stars for others, a reflection of that light which Christ caused to shine upon us. Amen."

Benedict XVI Homily for Feast of the Epiphany 2011