The Pattern of the Year

The Liturgical Year allows us to celebrate, and incorporate into our daily lives, the Mystery of God’s saving love for his People. It is focussed around the two great Cycles of the Incarnation and the Resurrection, each of which has its own pattern of preparation & festival. The two Cycles are divided by the Ordinary Time, when we reflect upon the teachings of our Lord. The liturgical colours provide a visual focus for the significance of the times we observe.   Beyond the Cycles, the rhythm of the liturgical year marks certain days for the celebration of the grace of God at work in individual Christians, as well as certain other festivals of our Lord.

Incarnation Cycle

Advent    -  purple

Christmass  -  white and gold.
: the Nativity
: the Holy Family                                                           
: the Naming of Jesus
: the Epiphany of the Lord
: the Baptism of the Lord

Ordinary Time   -  green

Resurrection Cycle

Lent   -  purple

: Ash Wednesday through first five weeks - purple
: Palm Sunday - red
: Holy Week - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - purple
: Maundy Thursday – white for the Liturgy of the Last Supper.
: Good Friday - red
: Holy Saturday – church bare.

Easter    -  white and gold

: Easter Vigil
: Easter Day and Season
: Ascension Day

Pentecost  -  red.

followed by

Trinity Sunday – white and gold

Corpus Christi – white and gold

Ordinary Time  -  green

including

Mary, Mother of the Lord – white and gold

All Saints – white and gold

Christ the King – white and gold