242. What is the function of the liturgical year? (part 2) (continuation)
(Comp
242 repetition) In the liturgical year the Church celebrates the whole mystery
of Christ from his Incarnation to his return in glory. On set days the Church
venerates with special love the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. The
Church also keeps the memorials of saints who lived for Christ, who suffered
with him, and who live with him in glory.
“In brief”
(CCC 1195) By keeping the
memorials of the saints - first of all the holy Mother of God, then the
apostles, the martyrs, and other saints - on fixed days of the liturgical year,
the Church on earth shows that she is united with the liturgy of heaven. She
gives glory to Christ for having accomplished his salvation in his glorified
members; their example encourages her on her way to the Father.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1171) In the liturgical year
the various aspects of the one Paschal mystery unfold. This is also the case
with the cycle of feasts surrounding the mystery of the incarnation (Annunciation,
Christmas, Epiphany). They commemorate the beginning of our salvation and
communicate to us the first fruits of the Paschal mystery. (CCC 1172) "In
celebrating this annual cycle of the mysteries of Christ, Holy Church honors
the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, with a special love. She is inseparably linked
with the saving work of her Son. In her the Church admires and exalts the most
excellent fruit of redemption and joyfully contemplates, as in a faultless
image, that which she herself desires and hopes wholly to be" (SC
103).
On reflection
(CCC 1173) When the Church keeps
the memorials of martyrs and other saints during the annual cycle, she
proclaims the Paschal mystery in those "who have suffered and have been
glorified with Christ. She proposes them to the faithful as examples who draw
all men to the Father through Christ, and through their merits she begs for
God's favors" (SC 104; cf. SC 108, 111). [END]
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