Hey there,
Last week Genuflect prematurely covered the topic of Christmas … so we would have time to begin important Advent Preparation.
This week, I’m going to be even more premature by wishing you all … a Happy New Year!
I’m not referring to 2020 though.
You see, this Sunday is the beginning of Advent … and it’s the beginning of the church’s Liturgical Calendar.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the Liturgical Calendar as:
[It is] the celebration throughout the year of the mysteries of the Lord’s birth, life, death, and Resurrection in such a way that the entire year becomes a “year of the Lord’s grace.” Thus the cycle of the liturgical year and the great feasts constitute the basic rhythm of the Christian’s life of prayer. (1168)
We already follow the Liturgical Calendar by attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. When we celebrate certain feast days like St. Valentine’s Day. And of course, Christmas and Easter.
But there is so much more going on during the Liturgical year. It’s easy to miss it if you aren’t paying attention.
What better way to enrich your faith than by following the life of our Lord more closely?
So as the new Liturgical Calendar year begins, it wouldn’t be premature to make a new year’s resolution … to follow the Liturgical Calendar.
This week’s issue of Genuflect is here to help you do just that. We look at how the Liturgical Calendar is set up, why it begins with Advent, how readings are chosen, why you should follow the Liturgical Calendar, how to live Liturgically, and some digital resources to help you along the way.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US, so I want to wish you all a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving. Here’s a look back at last year’s resources for being more thankful.
And happy new Liturgical year blessings to you too!
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
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The Rosary Boutique
Give a beautiful Rosary to your loved ones for Christmas … or find a new one for yourself to pray with during Advent. Our imported Rosaries are hand made by craftsmen in the Holy Land with stones indigenous to the Bethlehem area. They come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Shop all our Rosaries.
genuflect: resources
The Liturgical Year And Its Seasons Explained
Following the Liturgical Calendar helps to bring order to your life and ensures you are living according to the Lord’s will. The first step is to understand how the Liturgical Calendar works and what the various seasons mean. This breaks down the complex calendar into an easily understood overview.
The Liturgical Year: Conforming Your Life to Christ | Ascension Press
How The Sunday Readings Are Chosen
5th and 6th century Christians had notes in the margins of their Bibles telling them which readings to read on various Sundays. In the 7th century, Mass readings began to appear published in their own books. But it wasn’t until after the 16th century Council of Trent that the first Roman Missal was published. Here’s how the Gospel and readings are selected for each Mass.
How Are The Sunday Readings Chosen? | U.S. Catholic
Why is Advent The Beginning of The Liturgical Year?
The Liturgical Year celebrates the life of Jesus … his birth, death, and resurrection. Fr. Michael Kwatera explains why the Liturgical Calendar begins with the Lord’s birth, rather than the most important event, his resurrection.
Why is Advent The Beginning of The Liturgical Year? | The Central Minnesota Catholic
10 Reasons to Follow The Liturgical Calendar
It’s easy enough to attend Mass and not give much thought to the big picture … the divine flow of Jesus’ life. Following the Liturgical Calendar is one discipline that will keep you focused on your faith. Here are 10 reasons why you should live Liturgically.
10 Reasons to Follow The Liturgical Calendar | Patheos
How Following The Liturgical Calendar Can Change Your LIfe
In this interview, Chene Heady explains how her experience with following the Liturgical Calendar daily has changed her life. It helps those whose busy schedule has pushed their faith to the background of their life. Since the Liturgical Calendar follows the life of Jesus, it serves to connect our life with His.
How Following The Liturgical Calendar Can Change Your Life | Aleteia
How to Begin Living The Liturgical Year With Baby Steps
The Liturgical Calendar is fairly busy. It seems like every day we’re celebrating at least one Saint. It can be overwhelming for someone interested in living her life more liturgically. Catholic Mom, Kendra Tierney, explains how her family began living Liturgically by taking small steps at a time. Kendra walks you through 6 things you can do to get started.
Baby Steps to Living The Liturgical Year as a Family | Catholic All Year
How to Celebrate The Church’s Liturgical Year When You’re Single
There’s a lot of advice out there on how families can follow the Liturgical Calendar more closely in their lives. But what about those who are single? Chloe Langr has you covered with 5 easy ways to enrich your faith by incorporating the Liturgical year into your life as a single Catholic.
How to Celebrate The Church’s Liturgical Year When You’re Single | Aleteia
The Liturgical Calendar Goes Digital
What better way to follow the Liturgical Calendar than to add it to your calendar. If you use Google Calendar or iCalendar, it’s easy and free to add to your daily calendar. Or there are several apps you can add to your phone. See the options here and add the Liturgical Calendar to your daily routine.
New Liturgical Year Starts With Getting a Liturgical Calendar App | Catholic Aptitude
15 Ways to Celebrate Liturgically With Your Kids
There are plenty of opportunities to live Liturgically. If you’re interested in helping your children to celebrate more liturgically, Lacy Rabideau shares 15 ways to easily get started. These great ideas will help create some new Catholic traditions for your family..
Living The Liturgical Year at Home – How to Get Started | Catholic Icing
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