Catholic Liturgical Calendar
"All things have their season, and in their times
all things pass under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted."
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
The Catholic Liturgical Calendar has all the Church seasons that are celebrated within the liturgical year broken down so you can plan, worship and celebrate the same as millions of Catholics throughout the world.
The Church year runs in a circular rhythm that beautifully mimics the seasons in nature. But unlike nature that goes in a seemingly endless circle, the Liturgical year runs in a spiral, spiraling towards Jesus' promised coming.
The church year re-lives the life of Jesus.
Beginning in Advent when Catholic prepare for Jesus' coming at Christmas. It runs in cycles that recall the events not only in the life of Jesus but also in the life of Mary, the saints and the angels.
In the Liturgical cycle calendar diagram below, the months of the regular year are printed on the outside circle. The next layer of circles on the liturgical calendar has the name of the church season. The seasons are color coded for ease, and are also the color of vestments the church uses during those particular Catholic seasons.
The Catholic Church seasons are:
Circular Diagram Calendar
Of The Catholic Liturgical Year
A diagram of the Catholic liturgical cycle...
Above is an example of a circular diagram of the liturgical year for the Catholic church. The colored areas represent the different seasons within the Catholic church liturgical year.
These types of calendars are usually available through your archdiocese or online suppliers.
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Catholic Liturgical Seasons
Liturgical Calendar - Advent
"A voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord"
-Mark 1:3
By praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary on Sundays especially, you can immerse yourself in the season of Advent which is celebrated during the four weeks preceding Christmas.
Advent means "arrival" and it is a period of waiting for Christmas and for Jesus' second coming.. It is a season of penance and expectation that ends on Christmas Eve.
December 8 Immaculate Conception - Glorious Rosary Mystery Assumption and Coronation of Mary.
In addition to a greater focus on the Joyful Mysteries, you will find it very helpful to use an Advent prayer book.
Learn more about one and many other helpful Advent items such as Advent calendars, Advent wreaths, Advent candles and much more here...
Liturgical Calendar - Christmas
"Where is he that is born king of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him."
-Matthew 2:2
Immerse yourself in the season of Christmas by praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary on Sundays.
Christmas is the season in which Jesus' birth is celebrated.
December 25th is Christmas day which is recalled in the 3rd Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Nativity.
Christmas is a season of joy.
Besides focusing on the Joyful Mysteries more during the Christmas Season, you can find many other great ways to immerse yourself in this holy season with Catholic Christmas traditions in our Catholic Rosary Shop.
There you will find anything from nativity scenes to stories about St. Nicholas.
Christmastide is another name for Christmas season and actually lasts up until the Sunday after January 6th (Feast of the Epiphany) which recalls the 1st Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus.
During this season, the feast of the Holy Family is also celebrated on December 28th.
This feast in commemorated in the 5th Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Finding of Jesus in the Temple.
January 1st is the feast of Mary Mother of God which is recalled in the 5th Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, the Coronation.
So, instead of taking down all your beautiful Christmas decorations the day after the birth of Jesus, keep them up as you celebrate the true season of Christmas.
Liturgical Calendar - Ordinary Time
"Some of them God made high and great days,
and some of them he put in the number of ordinary days."
-Ecclesiasticus 33:10
The ordinary Rosary cycle rosary days should be prayed during Ordinary Time.
Ordinary time means numbered time and it encompasses all the time during the Church year that does not fall with the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent or Easter.
Many great feast days occur during Ordinary Time.
Many of these days are recalled in Rosary mysteries.
February 11th is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Recall how Mary appeared to St. Bernadette and together they prayed the Rosary.
March 25th is the Feast of the Annunciation, the 1st Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.
Liturgical Calendar - Lent
"He was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins"
-Isaias 53:3
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary should be prayed on Sundays to help you immerse yourself in the penitential season of Lent.
This season precedes Easter and commemorates Jesus' 40 days in the desert where he fasted and prayed.
Catholics spend forty days fasting and mortifying themselves following the example of Jesus.
Lent climaxes with Palm Sunday and ends with Holy Week.
Holy Week is full of Rosary mysteries.
Holy Thursday celebrates two mysteries of the Rosary, the 5th Luminous Mystery, the Institution of the Eucharist and the 1st Sorrowful Mystery, the Agony in the Garden.
The stations of the cross are another beautiful way to enhance your Lent. In our Catholic Rosary Shop, you will find the St. Alphonsus Liguori method that focuses on the sorrows of both Jesus and Mary along with many other Lenten aids.
Good Friday commemorates Jesus passion and death. This encompasses all the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation is also during Lent.
It takes place 9 months before Christmas and is meditated upon in the 1st Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.
Liturgical Calendar - Easter
"He is not here, for he is risen, as he said."
-Matthew 28:13
Easter is such a glorious season, do immerse yourself in this glorious season by praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary on Sundays, the same as during Ordinary Time.
This time of year celebrates Jesus' glorious Resurrection, the 1st Glorious Mystery of the Rosary.
During this season, two other Rosary mysteries are commemorated with special feast days. Ascension Thursday is the 2nd Glorious Mystery of the Rosary and Pentecost celebrates the birthday of the Church and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the 3rd Glorious Mystery of the Rosary.
Liturgical Calendar - Ordinary Time
"In their times all things pass under heaven"
-Ecclesiastes 3:1
The Church Year ends with another period of Ordinary Time.
This second Ordinary Time of the Liturgical calendar year is filled with wonderful feast days.
In June, the 5th Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, the Institution of the Eucharist is recalled in the celebration of Corpus Christi.
The feast of the Visitation, the 2nd Joyful Mystery is commemorated on July 2nd.
August is a month filled with glorious feast days. St. Dominic, the saint to whom Mary taught the Rosary, is remembered on his feast day on August 8th.
Followed by a very solemn feast of Mary, the Assumption
which is the 4th Glorious Mystery of the Rosary and is celebrated on August 15th.
A few days later, the Queenship of Mary is celebrated on August 22nd and is the 5th Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, the Coronation.
The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary is commemorated in the Sorrowful Mysteries and is observed on September 15th.
The whole month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. And October 7th in particular is the Feast of our Lady of the Rosary.
The month of November is dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory.
The feast days in this month are recalled in the Rosary as well...
Holy Mother Church, in all her loving wisdom has given many feast days to be observed and celebrated. And the Rosary itself beautifully accompanies this cycle as an invaluable aid in immersing yourself in life of Jesus and the peace it has to offer.
Catholic Mysteries Of The Rosary
Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from St. Luke's Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus' childhood. The most joyful event in all of human history is the Incarnation or when God became man and dwelt among us read more...
Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary
What a gift the the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary are. Meditating on these
Mysteries of Light bring even deeper understanding of the public life of Jesus.
They fill in the blanks between Jesus' childhood and His suffering and death on
the cross. Therefore read more...
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary remind you of how much Jesus
loves you. He suffered and died for you. "Greater love than this no
man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-John 15:13. You are loved by Jesus read more...
Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
The Glorious Mysteries are the crown of Jesus' triumphs. How
exhilarating to know that Jesus is God and that He rose from the dead,
making you an heir to Heaven. Reminding yourself of these glorious
events as you pray the Rosary prayer will keep your faith alive and strong read more...
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