THE LITURGICAL YEAR   Sunday is the Lord's day.  This is the day on which we celebrate Jesus' Resurrection. We go to Mass on this special day to give praise and thanks to God.  It is the heart of the Church's life.  There is much preparation and tradition that goes into preparing for every liturgy throughout the church year.   There are different liturgical colors which are worn by the priest and present on the altar each Sunday and holy day, depending on the time of year it is.  In this chart, each time of year is depicted according to its liturgical color.  Gospel Readings also rotate each year, depending on the liturgical cycle A, B or C.   2008 LITURGICAL CALENDAR for Dioceses in the U.S.
ORDINARY TIME: liturgical color is green for hope, growth, life. 1. Time in the winter between Christmas time and Lent.  2. Time in the summer and fall from Pentecost to the Feast of Christ the King. 3. Refers to ordinal, counted time. 4. Time to hear the Scriptures proclaimed inviting us to live out the mysteries of our faith and the message of the Gospels. Cycle A - Gospel of St. Matthew Cycle B - Gospel of St. Mark Cycle C - Gospel of St. Luke	LENT :  Time of preparation for Easter from Ash Wednesday to the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday  Liturgical color is PURPLE for penance HOLY WEEK  PALM SUNDAY  TRIDUUM - 3  Days frequently chosen for prayer or for other devotions  DAY 1.  HOLY THURSDAY - Mt. 26:26-35 , Mass of the Lord's Supper Mk. 14:22-31, Lk. 22:14-23 DAY 2.  GOOD FRIDAY Mt. 27, Mk. 15, Lk. 23 Celebration of the Lord's Passion -Liturgical color is RED for the blood of Jesus shed for us. DAY 3.  HOLY SATURDAY EASTER- Begins at sunset of Holy Saturday until sunset of Easter Sunday
ADVENT 1. Liturgical color is purple for preparation, sorrow for sin 2. Begins the Liturgical Year 3. Period of four weeks of preparation for the birth of Jesus, Christmas 4. Advent symbols Advent Wreath : The circle of greens reminds us that God has no beginning and has no end. There are four candles - three purple and one pink. One candle is lit each week. Jesse Tree	EASTER SEASON  Sunset of Easter Sunday to sunset of the Solemnity of Pentecost Easter Sunday: liturgical color is WHITE Mt. 28:1-15, Mk. 16:1-8, for joy, glory, innocence Lk. 24:1-12, Jn. 20:1-10 Ascension Thursday: liturgical color is WHITE Mt. 28:16-20, Mk. 16:19B20, Lk. 24:50-53, Acts 1:6-12 17
CHRISTMAS - The Story of Jesus' Bith Liturgical color is WHITE for joy, glory, innocence	Pentecost: liturgical color is RED Acts 2:1-4 for the Holy Spirit
Rose - 3rd Sunday of Advent and 4th Sunday of Lent (optional)