Celebrating Liturgical Seasons
Growing by Experiencing the Feasts and Seasons of the Church Year
Ordinary Time
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Ordinary Time is divided into two time periods. Following the Baptism of our Lord is the first period, which continues until Ash Wednesday. Pentecost Sunday starts the second period of Ordinary Time, the longest liturgical season, as it continues until the Advent season begins again.
The second season of Ordinary Time follows the celebration of Pentecost; the gift of the Holy Spirit moves us to do God’s work. The Spirit does for us and the Church what Jesus did for his disciples — he left them with his love, fire, and Spirit to share with the world. Trinity Sunday is celebrated the first Sunday after Pentecost. The Holy Trinity, gives us fullness in Christ — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
GREEN is the liturgical color of Ordinary Time that we find on priestly vestments and in our church decor. It is the color of life and hope.
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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
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On Corpus Christi, we are reminded that creation is a gift from God
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ has a different focus than Holy Thursday, which celebrates the eucharistic meal and the priesthood that makes it possible. Here we ponder the continuing presence of our Lord in the sacred elements.
He is here for us, whenever we want to enter a Catholic church and be with Christ. When we come before a tabernacle, we know that we are in the presence of another.....
Of course, Christ slips out of tabernacles all the time, when he goes to nourish the sick and the dying. On this day, he receives our adoration as our eucharistic Lord and also as the Lord of All Creation. And so, on this day we are also reminded that creation, our environment, is, like my grandparents’ garden, a gift of God. Something to be cherished and cared for because God has made us its stewards. Read More.
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Gospel reflection
June 23, 2019: The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Jesus chooses to take the little the disciples have and make it enough for all. Jesus also has the disciples assist in carrying out what needs to get done to feed the multitude. Why?
For the disciples and for each of us, there is a balance to be maintained on our journey. There is a time to hand things over to God. There is also a time to be an active player, guided by the Advocate, who helps play a role in participating in bringing God’s plan to fruition. Read More. |
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Find additional reflections on the Sunday Gospels on our Worship Tab and learn more about the Sacrament of Eucharist on our Sacramentality tab.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
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Trinity Sunday, officially called "The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity," is one of the few celebrations of the Christian Year that commemorates a reality and doctrine rather than a person or event. On Trinity Sunday, Christians remember and honor the eternal God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost, and lasts only one day, which is symbolic of the unity of the Trinity.
The Trinity is one of the most fascinating - and controversial - Christian teachings. The Trinity is described as a "mystery." By mystery the Church does not mean a riddle, but rather the Trinity is a reality above our human comprehension that we may begin to grasp, but ultimately must know through worship, symbol, and faith. It has been said that mystery is not a wall to run up against, but an ocean in which to swim.
The Trinity is best described in the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, commonly called the Nicene Creed. |
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The Trinity as the Shape of Faith
Reverend Michael Himes
February 5, 2003 Boston College, C21 Videos |
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What Is Trinity Sunday All About?
BY THE EDITORS of Busted Halo
MAY 20, 2016 Busted Halo has the facts for you! Click here to read more and to download this at-a-glance resource. |
Pentecost
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Pentecost in 2 Minutes
Pentecost is celebrated on Sunday, June 9, 2019. If you want a little more info on this celebration of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church, take a look at Busted Halo's two minute video. (From BustedHalo.com)
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How to Celebrate Pentecost Every Day
The Church is alive. We — you and me and all of us who dare to call Jesus “Lord” — are the living Body of Christ on earth. We are the hands of Christ reaching out to comfort, to heal, to feed, to sacrifice for those in bondage. We are the feet of Christ — always on the move, always bearing the message of love and mercy and repentance, always walking beside the poor and the forgotten and the brokenhearted. We are the heart of Christ — overflowing with compassion and brimming with hope.
The Holy Spirit sent by Jesus at the Pentecost is the breath that animates this Body. Read More. |
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A Brief Consideration of the Sequence Hymn of Pentecost: Veni Sancte Spiritus
There are several Feasts of the Church wherein a “sequence” hymn may be sung. The sequence hymn is sung Just before the the Alleluia (Gospel acclamation).
The feasts with sequence hymns are these:
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Here is the traditional Gregorian Chant of this sequence.
Go to our Prayer tab for a modern version and a downloadable prayer card in English.
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Playlists for Pentecost
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From Anam Cara Ministries:
So, depending on your tradition, Pentecost isn't a season so much as a day; however, I still think it deserves its shot at a playlist. Because, to be honest, Ordinary Time is going to go on for a loooooooooong time, and you'll be getting that playlist in July. To listen to just a few Pentecost-y songs, please click here.
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Here is another Pentecost playlist from Sacred Ordinary Days:
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Earth Day 2019: Protect Our Species
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“In nature, nothing exists alone.”
— Rachel Carson, 1962 Nature’s gifts to our planet are the millions of species that we know and love, and many more that remain to be discovered. Unfortunately, human beings have irrevocably upset the balance of nature and, as a result, the world is facing the greatest rate of extinction since we lost the dinosaurs more than 60 million years ago.
The unprecedented global destruction and rapid reduction of plant and wildlife populations are directly linked to causes driven by human activity: climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides to name a few. The impacts are far reaching. All living things have an intrinsic value, and each plays a unique role in the complex web of life. We must work together to protect endangered and threatened species: bees, coral reefs, elephants, giraffes, insects, whales and more. Learn more. |
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Earth Day 2018 Google Doodle
Last year’s annual Earth Day Doodle was created in partnership with one of the planet’s most influential advocates: Ethologist (animal behavior expert), conservationist, activist, and animal-lover Dr. Jane Goodall, who has dedicated her life to studying and protecting our environment. In it, Jane shares her personal message to the world on Earth Day 2018, including some of her inspiration and what we can all do to have a positive impact on our planet.
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Catholics care about climate change.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION TOGETHER. Click the image below for more information.
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Laudato Si'
Pope Francis's encyclical on ecology and climate change, Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home, has started new conversations on how we fulfill our duty to care for Creation. These exploration guides will help you dig deeper.
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In this fresh creative approach to theology, Elizabeth Johnson asks how we can understand cosmic redemption in a time of advancing ecological devastation. In effect, how can we extend the core Christian belief in salvation to include all created beings. Immediately this quest runs into a formidable obstacle: the idea that Jesus’ death on the cross was required as an atonement for human sin—a theology laid out by the eleventh-century theologian Anselm. Constructing her argument (like Anselm) in the form of a dialogue, Johnson lays out the foundations in scripture, the teachings of Jesus, and the early Church for an understanding that emphasizes the love and mercy of God, showing how this approach could help us respond to a planet in peril.
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