(Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used (whether recommended or prescribed) by a Christian congregation or denomination on a regular basis. Although the term liturgy is used to mean public worship in general.)

The Liturgical Year, that is the cycle of seasons and events celebrated through the Churches’ liturgy begins on the First Sunday of Advent and ends on the Feast of Christ the King.

The Sunday Liturgical cycle is 3-yearly and denoted by the letters A, B and C. Each year follows through one of the Gospels:

• A—Matthew
• B—Mark
• C—Luke

The Gospel of John is proclaimed on particular Sundays of each year.

The weekdays in Ordinary Time follow a 2 year cycle numbered 1 and 11. Year 1 is read in odd number years, year 11 is read in even numbered years.

The Church celebrates the paschal mystery on the first day of each week, known as the Lord’s Day or Sunday. This follows a tradition handed down from the Apostles and having its origin from the day of Christ’s Resurrection. Thus Sunday must be ranked as the first feast day of all.

The Liturgical Seasons

Advent.

Advent lasts from evening prayer (6:30p.m.) on the Sunday closest to November the 30^th and ends before evening prayer on December 24^th

There are 4 Sundays of Advent.

Advent is a time of preparation for Christmas when Christ’s first coming is remembered and a time when that remembrance directs us towards Christ’s second coming at the end of time.

Christmas

The season of Christmas lasts from evening prayer on December 24^th until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This occurs on the Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany.

Ordinary Time 1

This lasts from the Monday following the feast of the Baptism of the Lord until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The Sundays of Ordinary Time are numbered consecutively from the Baptism of the Lord.

Lent

Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday until the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.

There are 6 Sundays of Lent.

Lent is a time of penitence and preparation for the celebration of Easter. It is a time for prayer, penitence and alms giving, a time when we try through our actions to help others.

Holy Week begins on the 6^th Sunday of Lent, Passion/Palm Sunday when we remember Christ’s Passion beginning with his Messianic entry into Jerusalem.

The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday , follows the Passion and Death of Christ on Good Friday, celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday and ends with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.

Christ redeemed us all and gave glory to God through his Paschal Mystery: dying he destroyed our death, rising he restored our life. Therefore the Easter Triduum of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire Liturgical Year.

Easter Season

The Easter Season begins with the celebration of the Easter Vigil and concludes 50 days later on Pentecost Sunday. These 50 days are celebrated in joyful exultation, they are above all the “alleluia” days as we celebrate our redemption.

Ordinary Time 2

This lasts from the Monday following Pentecost Sunday until the Saturday before the 1^st Sunday in Advent. The last Sunday of Ordinary Time 2 is the Feast of Christ the King. The preceding Sundays are calculated to end with Sunday 34.

Liturgical Colours

White

Is used during the seasons of Christmas and Easter, on Feast Days of the Lord, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Angels and of Saints who were not Martyrs. It may be used in England and Wales for weddings and funerals.

Red

Is used on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost Sunday, on celebrations of the Lord’s Passion, on “birthday” feasts of the Apostles and Evangelists and on celebrations of martyred Saints.

Green

Is used in Ordinary Time

Purple

Is used during the seasons of Advent and Lent. It may also be used for funerals.

Black

May be used for funerals.

Rose

May be used on the 3^rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudate Sunday) and the 4^th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)

Who Can Pray the Rosary?

Anyone who knows six easy prayers can pray a Rosary; you will also need to know twenty Mysteries to meditate upon as you pray. You do not have to be a Catholic.

The Order of Prayers

The Rosary begins with the Apostles Creed, followed by one Our Father, three Hail Marys (traditionally offered for an increase in faith, hope, and charity for those praying the Rosary), a Glory Be. Next come five mysteries, each consisting of one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, a Glory Be. Conclude with the Hail Holy Queen.

Rosary Beads

If you do not have Rosary beads, it is perfectly okay to count with your fingers. Counting beads frees your mind to help you meditate.

Prayers for Praying the Rosary

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Hail Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Leader: Pray for us O Holy Mother of God,
All: That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Twenty Mysteries

The Joyful Mysteries

• The Annunciation: The Archangel Gabriel “announces” to Mary that she shall conceive the Son of God.
• The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist.
• The Nativity: Jesus is born.
• The Presentation: Mary and Joseph “present” Jesus in the Temple where they meet Simeon.
• The Finding in the Temple: After losing Him, Mary and Joseph find young Jesus teaching the Rabbis in the Temple.

The Luminous Mysteries

• The Baptism in the Jordan: The voice of the Father declares Jesus the beloved Son.
• The Wedding at Cana: Christ changes water into wine, his first public miracle.
• The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls to conversion (cf. Mk 1:15) and forgives the sins of all who draw near to him.
• The Transfiguration: The glory of the Godhead shines forth from the face of Christ.
• The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus offers the first Mass at the Last Supper with his apostles, establishing the sacramental foundation for all Christian living.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

• The Agony in the Garden: Jesus sweats water and blood while praying the night before his passion.
• The Scourging at the Pillar: Pilate has Jesus whipped.
• The Crowning with Thorns: Roman soldiers crown Jesus’ head with thorns.
• The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus meets His mother and falls three times on the way up Calvary.
• The Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies before His mother and His apostle John.

The Glorious Mysteries

• The Resurrection: Jesus rises from the dead.
• The Ascension: Jesus leaves the Apostles and bodily “ascends” to heaven.
• The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Apostles receive the Holy Spirit in tongues of fire in the upper room with Mary.
• The Assumption: Mary is taken bodily–assumed–into heaven by God at the end of her life here on earth.
• The Coronation: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.