Ordinary Time in the liturgical year
Lent is a forty-day period of penance, prayer, and conversion, preparing the faithful for the most important celebrations of the liturgical year — the Easter Triduum and the Resurrection of the Lord. It lasts from Ash Wednesday until Holy Thursday, during which the liturgy uses the colour violet.
Ordinary Time in the liturgical year
Ordinary Time is the longest part of the liturgical year and a time for systematically reflecting on the life, teachings, and public ministry of Jesus Christ. Contrary to its name, it does not mean a less important period — it guides the faithful through the successive Sundays, helping them to grow in faith and live out the Gospel in daily life.
WHAT IS ORDINARY TIME?
Ordinary Time in the Church is the part of the liturgical year comprising those weeks that do not belong to Advent, the Christmas season, Lent, or the Easter season. In the Roman liturgy, it is divided into two parts and includes a total of 33 or 34 weeks.
The term “ordinary” comes from the sequential numbering of the weeks. It does not mean that this time lacks significant events or spiritual content. The liturgy gradually reveals the mystery of Christ, His teaching, miracles, encounters with people, and call to conversion.
The current arrangement of Ordinary Time in the liturgical year was organised as part of the liturgical calendar reform after the Second Vatican Council. In the traditional Roman calendar, it approximately corresponds to the Sundays after Epiphany and the Sundays after Pentecost.
Two parts of the year
The first part of Ordinary Time occurs after the Christmas season, and the second begins after the Easter season.
The longest liturgical period
Ordinary Time comprises 33 or 34 weeks and therefore occupies the largest portion of the church calendar.
Sundays are numbered sequentially
The name of the period refers to the numbering of consecutive Sundays and weeks, not to their lesser significance.
Green colour
The basic colour of vestments used at this time is green, symbolising hope, life, and spiritual growth.
PLACE IN THE LITURGICAL YEAR
Ordinary Time and the liturgical year
The liturgical year is not merely a chronological listing of feasts. Its rhythm allows the Church to live through the whole mystery of Christ — from awaiting His birth, through His passion and resurrection, to proclaiming the Gospel and awaiting the Lord’s second coming.
Within this context, Ordinary Time fulfils a special role. Between the most important liturgical seasons, it allows the faithful to systematically learn the teaching of Jesus and relate it to their daily duties, relationships, and decisions.
The order of individual Sundays, solemnities, feasts, and memorials is determined by the liturgical calendarDuring Ordinary Time, there may be solemnities of the Lord, feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and memorials of saints. If these have a proper rank, they affect the form of the Mass, readings, and the liturgical colour used.
ORDINARY TIME CALENDAR
The First Part of Ordinary Time
The first part begins on the Monday following the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord
Completion Before Lent
The first part lasts until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
Back after the Easter break
The second part begins on Monday after Pentecost
The End of the Liturgical Year
The last Sunday of Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of Christ the King
Liturgical vestments for the successive Sundays of Ordinary Time
Carefully made chasubles, stoles, and dalmatics help maintain a dignified liturgical setting during the longest part of the church year.
Liturgical colour:
The liturgical colour of Ordinary Time is green – a symbol of hope, life, growth, and spiritual renewal.
GREEN
Hope, life, growth, renewal
Liturgical vestments
During Ordinary Time, the priest wears liturgical vestments in green.
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Frequently asked questions:
Ordinary Time is the part of the liturgical year excluding Advent, the Christmas season, Lent, and the Easter season. It consists of systematically reflecting on the life and teachings of Christ.
Ordinary Time lasts a total of 33 or 34 weeks. It is divided into the part occurring after the Christmas season and the part beginning after Pentecost.
The first part begins on the Monday after the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord. The second part starts on the Monday after the feast of Pentecost.
The name primarily refers to the sequential numbering of weeks. It does not mean that the liturgy of this time is less important or lacks special spiritual content.
On Sundays and weekdays of Ordinary Time, the green chasubleis basically used. If a solemnity, feast, memorial, or liturgical celebration occurs, the colour of the vestment is chosen according to the appropriate liturgical norms.
The green stole is primarily used during celebrations of Ordinary Time. It is a proper sign of the clerical ministry and should be selected according to the nature of the liturgy being celebrated.
Green symbolises hope, life, and spiritual growth. It aptly reflects the character of the period devoted to persevering in learning Christ’s teaching and living it out in daily life.
