In the Church, the yearly rhythm of the Liturgical Year or Christian Calendar takes us through two broad movements, as God the Father works through God the Son and God the Spirit to knit us into God's Life. This circular diagram illustrates the cyclical rhythm of Christian worship and spiritual life, grounding believers in the unfolding story of salvation. It begins conceptually not on January 1st, but with the season of Advent. The circular format emphasizes that we revisit these foundational events and themes annually, deepening our understanding and participation in them.
If you would like this chart in PDF, including slides which present a "buildup" from an empty chart, to the complete chart, going through the Christian year, click HERE for the entire Chart Packet. You can also get high res images of the FULL CHART and the EMPTY CHART.
The two major movements of time, which bisect the year in two, is represented by the large arrows:
"What God does FOR us through Jesus Christ": This encompasses the first half of the year, from Advent through Pentecost. It focuses on the pivotal events of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit – God's decisive actions for our salvation.
"What God does IN us through the Holy Spirit": This covers the second, longer part of the year, known as Ordinary Time or the Season after Pentecost. This period emphasizes the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and the Church, fostering growth, discipleship, and mission based on the events celebrated in the first half.
Let's journey through the Seasons, Symbols, and Colors of the Liturgical year as depicted on the chart:
Advent: The Season of Preparation
Timing: Begins the Church Year, typically starting four Sundays before Christmas (late November/early December).
Color: Blue (or sometimes Violet/Purple). Blue, shown here, often signifies hope, expectation, and royalty, pointing towards the coming King. Violet emphasizes penitence and preparation.
Symbol: Four Candles, representing an Advent Wreath. Each candle marks one of the four weeks of Advent, with light increasing each week symbolizing the growing anticipation of Christ, the Light of the World.
Theme: A season of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Christ's first coming (Nativity) and anticipation of His second coming.
Bible Passages: Prophecies of the Messiah (e.g., Isaiah 9:2-7, Isaiah 40:1-11), John the Baptist's call to repentance (e.g., Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-18), the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38).
Christmas: The Season of Incarnation
Timing: Begins on Christmas Day (December 25th) and lasts for 12 days, ending on the eve of Epiphany.
Color: White or Gold. These colors represent joy, purity, light, glory, and the holiness of Christ's birth.
Symbol: The Manger (Nativity scene). This points directly to the humble birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the Incarnation – God becoming human.
Theme: Celebration of the Incarnation, God entering the world as Jesus Christ.
Bible Passages: The Nativity narratives (Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-2:12), the theological prologue of John's Gospel (John 1:1-14).
Epiphany: The Season of Revelation
Timing: Begins on January 6th (the Feast of the Epiphany) and continues until Ash Wednesday. The Feast itself celebrates the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles (Magi), but the Season explores various manifestations of Jesus' divinity.
Color: Green (after the initial Feast Day which is White/Gold). Green signifies growth, life, and hope, reflecting the unfolding revelation of Christ's identity and mission.
Symbol: The Star (Star of Bethlehem). This represents the guidance that led the Magi to Jesus and symbolizes Christ as the light revealing God to the world.
Theme: The manifestation or showing forth ("epiphany") of Christ to the world. Key events include the visit of the Magi, Jesus' Baptism, and the Wedding at Cana.
Bible Passages: The Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12), the Baptism of Jesus (e.g., Mark 1:9-11), the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11).
Lent: The Season of Introspection
Timing: A 40-day period (excluding Sundays) beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding before the Easter Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday). Its timing varies based on the date of Easter (March/April).
Color: Purple/Violet. This color signifies repentance, penitence, reflection, and royalty (often associated with suffering).
Symbol: The Cross, depicted here as the cross of ashes made on Ash Wednesday. This focuses attention on Christ's journey towards sacrifice, calling believers to self-examination and repentance. The cross as ash also reminds us of our mortality: From dust we come and to dust we return.
Theme: A solemn season of preparation for Easter, marked by practices of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and introspection on Christ's suffering and sacrifice.
Bible Passages: Jesus' temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13), teachings on discipleship and the cost of following Christ (e.g., Mark 8:34-38), Psalms of repentance (e.g., Psalm 51).
Holy Week: The Season of the Passion
Timing: The final week of Lent, beginning on Palm Sunday and leading up to Easter.
Color: Varies by day (Palm Sunday often Red/Purple, Maundy Thursday White, Good Friday Black or Red, Holy Saturday none). The chart nests it visually between Lent and Easter.
Symbol: The symbol here are three nails, representing the three nails which pierced Jesus during his crucifixion. In addition, other symbols of Holy Week include palm branches (when Christ was welcomed on Palm Sunday), a towel and basin (when Christ washed his disciples' feet), the chalice and bread (when Christ instituted the Lord's Supper), the crown of thorns (given to Christ before his crucifixion), and the cross itself.
Theme: Intense commemoration of Jesus' final days: triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Last Supper, betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial.
Bible Passages: The Passion Narratives in the Gospels (Matthew 21-27, Mark 11-15, Luke 19-23, John 12-19).
Easter: The Season of the Resurrection
Timing: Begins on Easter Sunday and lasts for 50 days (a "week of weeks"), culminating on the Day of Pentecost. Its timing varies (March/April/May).
Color: White or Gold (the chart uses a bright yellow/gold). These are the colors of ultimate joy, victory, resurrection, light, new life, and celebration.
Symbol: The Empty Tomb. This powerfully signifies Christ's resurrection, His victory over death, and the promise of new life for believers.
Theme: The central celebration of the Christian faith – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's a season of profound joy, celebrating new creation and victory over sin and death.
Bible Passages: The Resurrection accounts (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21), post-Resurrection appearances, early Church proclamation in Acts (e.g., Acts 2:22-36), teachings on resurrection (e.g., 1 Corinthians 15).
Pentecost: The Day of Inspiration
Timing: The 50th day after Easter, marking the end of the Easter season and the beginning of Ordinary Time. (May/June).
Color: Red. This vibrant color symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit, the tongues of flame, the birth of the Church, and the blood of the martyrs empowered by the Spirit.
Symbol: Flames (often depicted as tongues of fire) or a Dove. These represent the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
Theme: Commemoration of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the apostles and the birth of the Church, empowering believers for mission and witness.
Bible Passages: The primary text is Acts 2:1-13, describing the events of the day. Passages about the Holy Spirit's work (e.g., John 14:15-27, Romans 8).
Ordinary Time: The Season of Mission (Season after Pentecost)
Timing: The longest period of the Church Year, filling the weeks between Pentecost and the start of Advent (roughly June to November). ("Ordinary" refers to ordinal, or numbered, weeks).
Color: Green. As in nature, green represents growth, life, and flourishing. It signifies the period for believers to grow in faith and live out their discipleship.
Symbol: A Tree with the word "Grow!" This symbolizes the growth of the Church and the spiritual development of individual believers rooted in Christ and nurtured by the Spirit.
Theme: Living the Christian life day by day. This season focuses on the teachings and ministry of Jesus, the growth of the Church, and the call to discipleship, mission, and living out the implications of the salvation story celebrated in the first half of the year. This is where "God works IN us through the Holy Spirit."
Bible Passages: Readings often cycle through the Gospels, presenting Jesus' teachings and miracles, as well as the Epistles, offering guidance for Christian living and community.
In essence, this chart visually narrates the Christian story, providing a rhythm for worship and life. It moves from anticipation (Advent) to celebration (Christmas), revelation (Epiphany), preparation (Lent), commemoration (Holy Week), ultimate victory (Easter), empowerment (Pentecost), and finally, the ongoing journey of growth and mission (Ordinary Time), before the cycle begins anew. It's a framework that helps believers continually re-center their lives on the work of God through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
If you would like this chart in PDF, including slides which present a "buildup" from an empty chart, to the complete chart, going through the Christian year, click HERE for the entire Chart Packet. You can also get high res images of the FULL CHART and the EMPTY CHART.
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