Monday, March 14, 2011

The Liturgical Year

One result of reunification has been the resolution of the ages old problems of the liturgical calendar. The Church's calendar has always allowed for the celebration of local feast days and memorials, which differed from region to region. It has also faced the problem of disagreements on specific calendars between the eastern and western rites and even within rites (such as the disparate cycle of feasts that existed between the Ordinary and Extraordinary forms of the Latin Rite which developed in the twenty-first century.)
The cycle of the liturgical calendar follows the traditional order of the Church. Starting in Advent, which is four weeks before the date of Christmas. Easter continues to be set based upon the cycle of Earth's moon using the Computus.  Easter day is the first Sunday after the 14th day of the lunar month (the nominal full moon) that falls on or after 21 March. This is nominally the day of the vernal equinox on Earth. Lent is the 44 days (forty days plus Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday. Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. The Septuagesima before Lent and the Sundays of Pentecost have been restored. The Church has added the season of Kingdomtide, which consists of the four Sundays at the end of the year before Advent, during which the period of Endtimes is uppermost in the mind of the Church. This is one of the most visible signs of reunification.
Solemnities, that is the great Church Feast Days have for the most part been returned to their traditional dates. Feast Days and memorials are probably as varied as they have ever been during the history of the Church, as bishops have been given latitude in this regard, on account of the great number of Saints who have blessed the Church, especially from the progressive era.
The three year cycle of liturgical readings, which was found very  beneficial for the edification of the faithful, continues, even in many of the non-Latin Rites and variant Usages.
Priests, religious and many members of the laity continue to pray the Liturgy of the Hours also called the Holy Office in a variety of forms, which are authorized for their use. Since the Office is linked to the calendar of Solemnities, feasts and memorials there is a great variation in the specifics of the Office from region to region. Electronic Breviaries are available which contain all of the variations and can select the correct readings based on location. Of course for monasteries, convents and parishes old fashioned bound copies are also available.

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