The Church Year
Seasons, Sundays, fasts, and feasts carry the whole year through the life of Christ. Read the Mass appointed for today, then see where it stands in the Church’s calendar.
Six Seasons
Waiting, conversion, and hope before the Nativity of the Lord.
The Church rejoices that the Son of God has come in the flesh.
Forty days of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, repentance, and return.
The Lord's Supper, Passion, death, burial, and Resurrection.
Fifty days of joy in the risen Christ, ending at Pentecost.
The steady life of discipleship with Christ through the year.
Crown of the Year · The Sunday before the First Sunday of Advent
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
The last Sunday of Ordinary Time crowns the year by lifting our eyes to Christ, true King of every nation and every heart. From his throne the year begins again in Advent.
USCCB Readings ↗
December 25
Christmas
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The Church keeps an octave of joy at the Lord's coming.
USCCB Christmas ↗
First night of the Sacred Triduum
Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper
Christ gives the Eucharist and the priesthood, washes his disciples' feet, and enters the night of his Passion.
USCCB Triduum ↗
The Sunday after the first spring full moon
The Resurrection of the Lord
He is risen, as he said. The Resurrection is the foundation of the Christian year and the reason every Sunday is a small Easter.
USCCB Easter ↗
Fifty days after Easter
The Descent of the Holy Spirit
The promised Holy Spirit descends on Mary and the apostles, and the Church is sent to every nation.
USCCB readings ↗
August 15
Of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary is taken body and soul into heavenly glory, a sign of the resurrection promised to her children.
USCCB readings ↗
November 1
Solemnity of All Saints
The Church honors the countless men and women who now see God face to face and intercede for us.
USCCB readings ↗Sources
