Since Chris and I have been trying to go to daily Mass regularly, the progression of the Church year has become much more evident to me. I find myself drawn into the season, and then expecting the next season. For example, when, for several weeks, you hear Christ repeatedly telling his disciples that he will be leaving and going to the Father, and that he will send the Advocate, you can't but help anticipating Assumption Sunday and the celebration of Pentecost the following Sunday.
At first, the Church calendar didn't make much sense to me; in fact, it felt "off," lop-sided or top-heavy if you will. But last Saturday we heard a short homily explaining the basic structure of the calendar - and it all came together. (The homily was given by a 90-something year old Dominican who has obviously absorbed the Church seasons into his very being)
A basic outline:
Advent - anticipation of the Incarnate Lord
Christmas - the celebration of the Incarnate Lord (The Christmas season lasts for several days after December 25th)
Lent - 40 days of preparation for walking with the Lord through his suffering and death
Triduum - Treading the Paschal mystery with our Lord
Easter - a celebration of Christ's victory over death. The Easter season runs from Easter Sunday to the celebration of Pentecost, 50 days later. (One very small aspect of the Easter season I really like is the continual burning of the Easter Candle. It is lit at midnight of Easter Sunday, and burns throughout the 50 days of Easter - celebrating Christ as the Light of the world) Towards the end of the Easter season the scripture readings and prayers focus around Christs assumption and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
"Ordinary Time" - the long stretch between Pentecost and the beginning of Advent. Many days celebrating the saints are commemorated during this time. The last Sunday in ordinary time is the "Feast of Christ the King" - celebrating Christ's kingly authority as well as looking forward to his Second coming.
So what didn't make sense to me was why the two big seasons (Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter) were clumped together, leaving this big long stretch of "Ordinary time" where not a whole lot really happened.
Step in ancient priest to explain. . .
The whole of those two seasons is the celebration of God's saving work - Christ's incarnation, life, ministry, passion, resurrection, ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost the church is born - the Great Commission begins - the Holy Spirit animates the Church (i.e. us!) and the daily, "ordinary" life of the church begins. The celebration of Christ's life on earth gives us courage, hope, grace to follow in the footsteps of the saints, and march under Christ's banner. We set forth, holding close the memory of the Incarnation and Passion, breathing in the Spirit, and celebrating those great men and women who have gone before us - setting the example and showing us how to sanctify our daily life, making it holy, pleasing and acceptable to God. And it is capped off by celebrating Christ the King - directing our eyes to heaven.
So, when it's all said and done, the Church calendar makes a lot of sense and it helps us celebrate and live out our faith.
(A long article from New Advent on the Calendar - if anyone is interested)
2 comments:
Isn't it marvelous that God has written into Creation itself, into the cycle of seasons, the constant progression from life to death to life again? As human beings, and consequently as spiritual/bodily creatures, our bodily need for the seasons: for work and rest, for the ordinary and the extra-ordinary seasons is naturally picked up by our psychology and also, indeed, by our spirituality.
This is yet another way in which Christ is the center of all Creation -- his cosmic act of salvation was written into the pattern of all created life!
What a lovely blog you have, Steph. It makes me want to see you all the more. Do you think if I come over you could send the snake away for a while? I am not anxious to meet him.
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