The Christian Liturgical Year Marie Olson Purcell The

The Christian Liturgical Year Marie Olson Purcell

The Liturgical Year � Fixed Festivals Dates are constant, may fall on any day of the week Examples: � Ch ristmas – December 25 � Epiphany – January 6 � Festivals of Saints � Anniversaries � Moveable Feasts Dates vary each year but always fall on the same day of the week Examples: � Easter � Pentecost � Ash Wednesday Two Cycles: Temporale and Sanctorale

Temporale Cycle Proper of Time/Proper of Seasons

Advent Christmas Epiphany Lent Easter Ordinary Time

Origins of Easter � Quartodecimans � “Fourteeners” � The extension of the Vigil � Fasting � Shifting to cockcrow, ~3: 00 a. m. (on Sunday) Calendars � Separation from Jewish synagogue � Culture which uses Julian solar calendar � 14 Nisan = March 25, coincidently Julian Spring Equinox � Easter becomes linked with Full Moon after Spring Equinox � Development � Maundy Morning of Triduum Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil/Easter

Maundy Thursday � Triduum begins in evening of Thursday � Institution of Eucharist � Reenactment of Jesus’ washing the disciples' feet � A new commandment (John 13: 34) � Mandatum � Maundy novum

Reenactment of Washing Disciples Feet

Stripping of the Altar – Psalm 22

Good Friday � Began with veneration of remnant of the cross in Jerusalem; veneration of the cross symbolically � Many churches have services which focus on Jesus’ words on the cross � Many churches also have Tenebrae (“Darkness”) services; candles are extinguished one by one to recall Jesus’ sufferings

Stations of the Cross

Easter Vigil � Early 4 th century evening worship practice of lighting an evening lamp; Easter Vigil in particular begins practice of lighting the Paschal Candle � Western traditions begin vigil with the light; Eastern traditions end with the dramatic climax of the light

Miracle of the Holy Fire

Easter Sunday � Sunrise Services � Flowers, especially Lilies � White and Gold � Empty Cross � Empty Tomb � Traditional Easter Greeting � “He is Risen!” “He is Risen Indeed!”

Lent � 40 days � Symbolic of Jesus’ 40 days of temptation in the wilderness � Does not include Sundays � 6 weeks – Sundays = 36 days � Therefore, Lent begins on a Wednesday � Ash Wednesday

Easter Baptisms � Prior to Nicaea, preference for paschal baptism local custom � Catechumenate fasting practices � Preferable on Easter � Dying with Christ and being raised to new life � Joyous coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost � Baptisms at other times permissible, should not be delayed

Pentecost � Early on referred to 50 days of Pentecost which would have celebrated the resurrection rather than simply one day � Gift of the Spirit in Constantinople, Rome, Milan and Spain � Ascension celebrated on 50 th day by some, gradually moves to the 40 th day

Origins of Christmas on December 25 � Two Theories � Earliest evidence for December 25, Chronograph of 354 � History of Religions hypothesis � Re-appropriate pagan holiday or alternative � Julian calendar observed winter solstice on same date � Computation � If hypothesis death on March 25, Conception also on March 25, 9 months later his birth must be on December 25

Christmas Customs � Most popular Christian celebration � Stresses the importance of the Incarnation � Focus on the Lukan Narrative � Christmas Tree � Chrismons � Greenery � Poinsettias � Advent Wreath

Epiphany � Eastern � Western � January � Sunday 6 � Commemorates Jesus’ baptism/birth between January 2 and 8 � Associated with visit from Magi Two Theories: 1) History of Religions Hypothesis 2) Computation Hypothesis

Sanctoral Cycle

United States Conference of Bishops: On the harmony between the two cycles “The mystery of Christ, unfolded through the cycle of the year, calls us to live his mystery in our own lives. This call is best illustrated in the lives of Mary and the saints, celebrated by the Church throughout the year. There is no tension between the mystery of Christ and the celebration of the saints, but rather a marvelous harmony. The Blessed Virgin Mary is joined by an inseparable bond to the saving work of her Son, and the feasts of all the saints proclaim the wonderful works of Christ in his servants and offer the faithful fitting examples for their imitation. In the feasts of Mary and of the saints, the Paschal Mystery of Christ is proclaimed and renewed. ” http: //www. usccb. org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/index. cfm

Early Beginnings of Sanctoral Cycle � History of Early church better understood through the development of ‘popular’ practices and beliefs associated with the cult of martyrs and saints � Chronograph 354 � Practices � Local gathering at martyr’s tomb on anniversary of death � Eucharist, with the dead

Saints � Coming up: � October 31: All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween) � November 1: All Saints Day � November 2: All Souls Day � Dia de los Muertos (Oct. 31 -Nov. 2)