Liturgical Year Notes
The 7 seasons of the liturgical (church) year:
1. Advent—begins 4 Sundays before Christmas and ends on Dec. 24
color: violet (blue/purple)
2. Christmas—begins on Dec. 25 and ends on the feast of the Baptism of the
Lord color: white
3. Ordinary Time—begins after the feast of the Baptism of our Lord and ends
the day before Ash Wednesday lasts 4-8 Sundays color: green
4. Lent—begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Wednesday of Holy Week 40 days
long a time of penance and self-denial, fasting (not eating between meals)
and abstinence (not eating meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) color:
purple
5. Triduum (means three days)—begins on Holy Thursday eve and includes Good
Friday and Holy Saturday color: red
6. Easter—begins on Easter Sunday and ends on Pentecost Sunday; 50 days long
Pentecost—the birthday of the Church, 50 days after Easter; includes the
Ascension-40 days after Easter, when Jesus ascends to heaven color: white
7.Ordinary Time—begins on day after Pentecost
lasts 23-28 Sundays (but the number is continued from the first Ordinary Time)
ends on the Feast of Christ the King color: green
Definitions of items used in church
Altar—table at which Mass is offered
Alb—ankle length white vestment with sleeves which the priest wears at Mass
Celebrant—priest offering Mass
Chalice—the vessel in which wine is consecrated
Ciborium—the vessel with a lid in which the Blessed Sacrament is stored in
the tabernacle
Chasuble—large, full-length colored Mass vestment worn by the celebrant over
the shoulders and hanging down the front and back
Lectionary –book containing the readings for Mass
Sacramentary—book containing prayers that the priest says at Mass
Sanctuary—the place in the church where the altar stands
Sanctuary lamp or light—a candle near the tabernacle that tells you the
Blessed Sacrament is present
Sacristy—the room where the priest and servers get ready for Mass
Stole—narrow strip of cloth with a cross or crosses on it that is worn by the
priest during Mass and other sacraments; it is the symbol of the priestly
office.
Tabernacle—the cabinet where the Blessed Sacrament (consecrated hosts) is
stored
The Ten Commandments
1. Thou shall not have strange gods before me.
2. Thou shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.\
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.
4. Honor your mother and father.
5. Thou shall not kill.
6. Thou shall not commit adultery.
7. Thou shall not steal.
8. Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. Thou shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10.Thou shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
Holy Days (in the U.S.)
1. January 1-Mary, Mother of God
2. 40 days after Easter-The Ascension-when Jesus went to heaven
3. August 15-The Assumption-when Mary was taken to heaven, body and soul
4. November 1-All Saints Day-when we celebrate all saints in heaven and on
earth, living and dead, canonized and not canonized
5. December 8-The Immaculate Conception-when Mary was conceived without
original sin
6. Dec. 25-The Nativity (or Christmas) when God took on flesh and became
human and Jesus was born
