YOUCAT Question n. 186 - Part I. What is the liturgical year (the Church year)?
(Youcat answer) The liturgical year, or
the Church year, superimposes the mysteries of the life of Christ—from his
Incarnation to his second coming in glory—on the normal course of the year. The
liturgical year begins with Advent, the time of waiting for the Lord, and has
its first high point in the Christmas season and its second, even greater
climax in the celebration of the redemptive suffering, death, and Resurrection
of Christ at Easter. The Easter season ends with the feast of Pentecost, the
descent of the Holy Spirit on the Church. The liturgical year is repeatedly interrupted by feasts of Mary and the saints,
in which the Church praises God’s grace, which has led mankind to salvation.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC
1168) Beginning with the Easter Triduum as its source of light, the new age of
the Resurrection fills the whole liturgical year with its brilliance. Gradually,
on either side of this source, the year is transfigured by the liturgy. It
really is a "year of the Lord's favor" (Lk 4:19). The economy of
salvation is at work within the framework of time, but since its fulfillment in
the Passover of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the culmination of
history is anticipated "as a foretaste," and the kingdom of God
enters into our time.
Reflecting and meditating
(CCC Comment)
(CCC
1169) Therefore Easter is not simply
one feast among others, but the "Feast of feasts," the
"Solemnity of solemnities," just as the Eucharist is the
"Sacrament of sacraments" (the Great Sacrament). St. Athanasius calls
Easter "the Great Sunday" (St. Athanasius (ad 329) ep. fest. 1: PG
24, 1366) and the Eastern Churches call Holy Week "the Great Week."
The mystery of the Resurrection, in which Christ crushed death, permeates with
its powerful energy our old time, until all is subjected to him.
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