Pastors note
Ordinary Time
What does that mean when we say "Ordinary Time," "Liturgical Season," "Season"? Will it means a lot if you are a liturgist, if you work in the church, and if you are the type of person who notices changes in a church. Since the beginning of December the church has transitioned into 3 different seasons. We began our liturgical year with Advent, which for 4 weeks prepared us for the celebration of Christmas. A few Sunday's ago we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord marking the end of the Christmas Season, and began Christ's mission. Two Mondays ago we began the season of Ordinary Time. You may be saying "Yea, and so what." "What does this have to do with my life?" Ultimately not a lot. But it can help set you into a church mode, a church way of seeing things differently throughout the year. Just as the Earth and the universe forces us to continually see and experience things new through changes and seasons. The church try's to help us experience Christ in new ways too.
Seven years ago around this very time, I began to celebrate Ordinary Time for the first time in a new way. As a priest. I celebrated it many times before mainly on the weekend. But that first year I can remember putting on a green stole for the first time to celebrate "Monday the first week of Ordinary Time" and I have know idea for the life of me why it was exciting? Ha ha ha, but it was. We celebrate the major portion of Ordinary Time throughout summer. But for just a few weeks, about 6 we begin to celebrate this season just before the season of Lent begins. But why get so excited for Ordinary Time? I'll let you know next week. For now I would like to invite you to allow yourself to experience Christ in The Ordinary... In the here and now.
Frank T. Natale MSC
Ordinary Time
What does that mean when we say "Ordinary Time," "Liturgical Season," "Season"? Will it means a lot if you are a liturgist, if you work in the church, and if you are the type of person who notices changes in a church. Since the beginning of December the church has transitioned into 3 different seasons. We began our liturgical year with Advent, which for 4 weeks prepared us for the celebration of Christmas. A few Sunday's ago we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord marking the end of the Christmas Season, and began Christ's mission. Two Mondays ago we began the season of Ordinary Time. You may be saying "Yea, and so what." "What does this have to do with my life?" Ultimately not a lot. But it can help set you into a church mode, a church way of seeing things differently throughout the year. Just as the Earth and the universe forces us to continually see and experience things new through changes and seasons. The church try's to help us experience Christ in new ways too.
Seven years ago around this very time, I began to celebrate Ordinary Time for the first time in a new way. As a priest. I celebrated it many times before mainly on the weekend. But that first year I can remember putting on a green stole for the first time to celebrate "Monday the first week of Ordinary Time" and I have know idea for the life of me why it was exciting? Ha ha ha, but it was. We celebrate the major portion of Ordinary Time throughout summer. But for just a few weeks, about 6 we begin to celebrate this season just before the season of Lent begins. But why get so excited for Ordinary Time? I'll let you know next week. For now I would like to invite you to allow yourself to experience Christ in The Ordinary... In the here and now.
Frank T. Natale MSC