Grade 4 Class - Liturgical Calendar Highlights

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR

The document below explains how there are two concurrent cycles of feasts of the Liturgical year, the "temporal cycle" (Temporale) or "Proper of the time" (Proprium de tempore) and "sanctoral" (sanctus) cycles. The temporal cycle is an annual cycle during which

the Church celebrates the whole mystery of Christ, from the Incarnation to Pentecost Day and the days of waiting for the Advent of the Lord (GNLYC, No. 17)

The source and center of the whole Liturgical Year is the Paschal Mystery. The annual commemoration centers on that mystery, and then spirals out with the whole mystery of Christ. In the order of prominence the temporal cycle is composed of the Easter Triduum, Easter Season, Lent, Christmas Season, Advent, and Ordinary Time. The temporal cycle also includes solemnities and feasts that celebrate the mystery of the Redemption. This cycle needs to be preserved and remain intact to "enjoy its rightful preeminence over particular celebrations" (GNLYC, No. 50a).

And then there is the sanctoral calendar, or the Proper of the Saints which includes feasts of devotion of Our Lord, feasts of Mary and the saints. This cycle runs simultaneously with the temporal cycle, but it is secondary in the priority of feasts.

2021 USCCB Liturgical Calendar

THE TEMPORAL CYCLE OF THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR

ASH WEDNESDAY BEGINS THE SEASON OF LENT

“Remember, man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

For the 2021 season of Lent, Pope Francis suggested the theme, A Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love. Read his letter below:

LENT 2021: The Holy See on Lent and the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Love

"The only true riches are those that make us rich in virtue. Therefore, if you want to be rich, beloved, love true riches. If you aspire to the heights of real honor, strive to reach the kingdom of Heaven. If you value rank and renown, hasten to be enrolled in the heavenly court of the Angels." -- Pope St. Gregory the Great

"Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven."-- St. Ephraem

List of Virtues Sheet (1).pdf

Lenten Traditions from Sacred Scripture, the Catechism & the Saints [Courtesy of EWTN]

DAILY LENTEN GOSPEL REFLECTIONS FROM BISHOP BARRON

SECOND WEEK OF LENT

LUKE 15:1–3, 11–32

Friends, our Gospel today is Jesus’ best-known parable: the story of the prodigal son.

In considering this narrative, we are dealing with an icon of the Father told by the one who is himself the Icon of the Father. Thus we have Jesus indirectly crafting a subtle self-portrait. The gathering embrace of the father in the story mirrors that of the heavenly Father, which in turn is represented in that of Jesus.

What happens when the father embraces his son and kisses him? The boy speaks: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son." Whenever characters in the Bible come close to the divine grace, they experience a heightened sense of their own unworthiness. This is the dynamic at work in the case of the prodigal son.

But his father ignores his carefully rehearsed speech, and with an eagerness bordering on impatience, instructs his servants to prepare a celebration. Our participation in the flow of the divine life is, necessarily, a gift. It cannot, in principle, be earned or merited, but only accepted. We can only be embraced by it.

Reflect: Do you believe you can earn a place in God’s kingdom? Why or why not?

THE SANCTORAL CYCLE OF THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR

ST. JOSEPH: PATRON SAINT OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

The Holy see has declared 2021 as a year dedicated to St. Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus Christ. Our Pastor, Father Carlos advises us to seek the intercession of St. Joseph during our Lenten journey, and look to him as a holy example of living and practicing the virtues.

In the Church's sanctoral cycle, St. Joseph has two specific feast days in the Liturgical Calendar: March 19th, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, and May 1st, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Redemptoris Custos - Pope St. John Paul the Great

Patris Corde - Pope Francis

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE: PATRON SAINT OF WRITERS

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS: PATRON SAINT OF STUDENTS

A Student's Prayer by St. Thomas:

Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom! Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance.

Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion.

This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever.

The patron saint of science, St. Albert the Great, was a key mentor of St. Thomas Aquinas.

St. Thomas reconciled the sciences and rational thought with theology and faith. He explained the Greek philosopher Aristotle's exhortation, "Actus purus" [the "unmoved mover"] as God, the creator of all truth; as Sacred Scripture exclaims, "I am who I am" [Ex. 3:14]

St. Thomas belonged to the Dominican Order of Preachers. Dominican monastaries are still in existence today. The Dominican monks at the Thomistic Institute offers simple explanations of key writings of St. Thomas. Some of these are shown below:

Theology from the Thomistic Institute