Some of us are old enough to remember a portion of the liturgical year whose Sundays were titled as the Sundays after Pentecost. Those same days are now titled Sundays in Ordinary Time.
It would be easy to presume that this season on the liturgical calendar is called "ordinary" because it seems that nothing extra-ordinary is celebrated on these Sundays. That's not quite true. The use of "ordinary" here comes from "ordinal" or "expressing order or succession."
A more accurate title for this season, then, might be "counted Sundays."
But is Ordinary Time ordinary in the ordinary sense of the word "ordinary?" No, it is not. There is never anything ordinary about the gathering of the Christian faithful on the Lord's Day for the purpose of hearing God's voice in the scriptures and offering God praise and thanksgiving through the prayer of all prayers, the Eucharist. It may not be a particular feast or solemnity but it is the Lord's Day, the day the Lord has made, and we are called to be glad and rejoice in it!
Of course, the major seasons of year (Advent - Christmas and Lent - Triduum - Easter) bring with them extra-ordinary anticipation, preparations, scriptures, rites, customs, colors, scents, vesture, song, prayer and sacraments. From the perspective of those who work all year long in helping a parish to celebrate the mysteries of our redemption through the liturgical calendar, the "high seasons" are much more work than the "season of counted Sundays."
So, not a few parish ministers are breathing a sigh of relief as Pentecost becomes history and most of the 34 Sundays in Ordinary Time stretch before us. (The first five Sundays of Ordinary Time in this Year of Grace, 2008 were celebrated after Christmas and before Lent. The last Sunday of Ordinary Time will be the Solemnity of Christ the King, this year on November 23, just before Advent, beginning this year on November 30.)
But the portion of Ordinary Time ahead of us has a festal beginning. Every year the Sunday after Pentecost (this year the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time) is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (popularly known as Trinity Sunday) and the second Sunday after Pentecost is the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (popularly known as Corpus Christi).
These two Sundays are among days on the church calendar sometimes called "idea feasts" or "feasts of devotion." That is to say: these feasts commemorate not a person or an event in the life of Christ or the saints but rather commemorate either a theological doctrine or a special devotion. Homilists often find such feasts to be difficult preaching assignments!
Questions about Ordinary Time or the Church year? Drop them in the combox and I'll do my best to respond in subsequent posts.
-ConcordPastor
You learn something every day! Even though I am "old", I have no recollection of Ordinary time being referred to as the Sundays after Pentecost!
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at the right side of that liturgical calendar, it's amazing that any parish staffs or ministers are still standing by Pentecost!!
Excellent explanation of the church year with great pie chart! Why do homilists find the Trinity and Body of Christ difficult to preach on?
ReplyDeleteLooking at the pie chart it appears that we are entering the "How Green Was My Valley" half of the church year. With everything greening, flowering trees, lilacs, forsythia, daffodils, tulips in bloom....my spirits lift. One of the intercessions we say at mass is "For Those Who Need Work and For Those Who Need Rest." You, Concord Pastor, soon will have a much deserved Rest...at least a slower pace in this Ordinary Time!
ReplyDeleteAh, but remember (as I'm sure my readers down Under soon will) that for half of the world, a season other than spring is on the way!
ReplyDeleteFor homily for Corpus Christi...what about expanding, expounding on your blog entry Papal Visit - 14?
ReplyDelete