The Evolution of Seasons and Feasts in Catholic Tradition

Catholicism is its own universe, and to be Catholic is to become – among other things – immersed in the tradition. A significant part of that tradition is the celebration of certain seasons and feasts.

In the following essay, I will examine the seasons, feasts, and even time that make up the Catholic universe.

Time And Season

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1.

The presence of seasons and holy feasts are found very early in the Bible. While the keeping of the sabbath day is preeminent (see Exodus 20:9-11), the Old Testament records a total of eight festivals: The Sabbath Day, Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles.

A point about the word “festival:” the modern use of the word often connotes a type of party. However, the origin of the word ‘festival’ can be traced to the Latin “festa,” meaning “a religious holiday,” and days that were celebrated as religious feasts were “festival days.”

For its part, the Catholic Church celebrates Christ’s saving work on prescribed days throughout the year with sacred remembrance, utilizing different liturgical seasons.

Each Sunday, the Church celebrates the Sabbath Day and the Resurrection of the Lord. Moreover, throughout the year, the Church unfolds the entire mystery of Christ and observes the birthdays of the Saints, following the liturgical calendar.

The origins of the Catholic liturgical calendar can be traced back to the early days of Christianity itself. In its infancy, the Church celebrated the Eucharist and other liturgical practices without following a formal calendar. However, as Catholicism spread throughout the Roman Empire, the need to organize and standardize the worship of the growing Christian community became evident.

By the fourth century, the groundwork for the liturgical calendar had been laid. One of the most significant developments in the evolution of the Catholic Liturgical Calendar was the adoption of essential feast days.

The earliest feast days were focused on the Resurrection of Jesus (Easter Sunday) and the commemoration of martyrs. Over time, additional feast days were added to celebrate events like the Nativity of Christ (Christmas) and the Annunciation of Mary (March 25) on the already-existing structure of the Roman calendar, which the Church adopted.

The Liturgical Year begins on the first Sunday of Advent. The seasons are Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, Triduum or Three Days, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time again, finishing with the feast of Christ the King. As can easily be seen, the calendar goes from the expectation of the Nativity of the Lord until his recognition as King of the Universe.

Each season has its distinct character and focus, reflecting the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. In addition, feast days play a vital role in the calendar; honoring saints, Marian apparitions, and critical events in the history of the Church.

The origins and evolution of the Catholic Liturgical Calendar are thus a living testament to the dynamic nature of the Catholic Church. From its early beginnings in the first centuries of Christianity to the liturgical reforms of the twentieth century, the calendar has adapted to and adopted the needs of the faithful. As it organizes the liturgical life of the community of believers, it remains a cornerstone of the Catholic faith, providing a structured and sacred framework for worship, reflection, and communion with the divine and with other believers.

What follows is a brief summation of the seasons of the Catholic Church.

Advent consists of four weeks of preparation before celebrating Jesus’ birth.

Christmas is a time for recalling the Nativity of Jesus Christ and his manifestation in the world.

Lent is a six-week period of penance before Easter.

The Sacred Paschal Triduum is considered the holiest “Three Days” of the Church’s year. During this time, Christians recall Jesus’s suffering, death, and resurrection.

Easter comprises fifty days of joyful celebration of the Lord’s resurrection from the dead and his sending forth of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, there is Ordinary Time, which is divided into two periods. The first is a two-month period following Christmas, and the second is a six-month period following Easter.

These individual events are celebrated as ecclesiastical feasts.

Feasts

Ecclesiastical feast days commemorate the sacred mysteries and events recorded in the history of God’s redemptive work. These events include memorials and special services for Mary, the apostles, martyrs, and saints.

A feast not only commemorates an event or person but also excites the spiritual life by reminding us of the event it commemorates. At times, Christ invites us to His vineyard (Matthew 20:1-15) and is born in our hearts at Christmas. On Good Friday, we are crucified on the cross with Him; at Easter, we rise from the tomb of sin; and at Pentecost, we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The succession of these seasons forms the ecclesiastical year, in which the feasts of Our Lord form the ground and framework, the feasts of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints, the ornamental tracery.

Conclusion

From the time of the Mosaic law and the Old Testament, the faithful have observed feasts, beginning with Passover, to commemorate God’s astonishing actions, to give thanks, to perpetuate their remembrance, and to teach new generations to conform their conduct to them.

As part of its rich tradition, the Catholic Church has developed its own feasts to promulgate the Good News of the Gospel. In this essay, I have endeavored to provide a brief overview of the seasons and feasts so crucial to the practice of the Catholic faith.