Understanding the Christian Calendar and Sacred Seasons: A Guide to Liturgical Time
As of June 7, 2025, the Christian church is in the season of Ordinary Time, which begins on June 9, 2025 and ends on November 29, 2025. The beginning of the month of June concludes the liturgical season of Easter, with Pentecost celebrated on June 8.
As Christians worldwide navigate the rhythms of faith in 2025, understanding the liturgical calendar becomes increasingly important for spiritual growth and community worship. The Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ—his suffering, death, and resurrection—is continuously proclaimed and renewed through celebrating the events of his life, making the calendar more than just dates on a page.
The Structure of the Liturgical Year
Generally, the seasons in liturgical western Christianity are Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time (Time after Epiphany), Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time (Time after Pentecost). This annual cycle creates a rhythm that guides Christian worship and personal devotion throughout the year.
The Christian year includes two central cycles focused on major events in the life of Christ: the Christmas cycle (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany) and Easter cycle (Lent-Easter-Pentecost). Each of these seasons begins with a time of preparation and anticipation followed by a time of celebration.
Current Season: Ordinary Time After Pentecost
As of June 7, 2025, the Christian church is in the season of Ordinary Time, which begins on June 9, 2025 and ends on November 29, 2025. The beginning of the month of June concludes the liturgical season of Easter, with Pentecost celebrated on June 8.
The word "ordinary" here does not imply a season of dull routine. Instead, there remain in the yearly cycle thirty-three or thirty-four weeks in which no particular aspect of the mystery of Christ is celebrated, but rather the mystery of Christ itself is honoured in its fullness, especially on Sundays.
The Two Parts of Ordinary Time
Technically, Ordinary Time has two parts, but it remains one season. The first part begins right after the feast of the Epiphany and runs until Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (when Lent begins). The second part begins the Monday after Pentecost and continues through late November.
The Three-Year Lectionary Cycle
The Sunday Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. The year which begins with Advent 2024 and ends at Advent 2025 is Year C. This systematic approach ensures that over a three-year cycle nearly the entire New Testament and the most significant portions of the Old Testament are covered.
Practical Benefits for Modern Christians
The liturgical calendar serves several practical purposes for contemporary believers:
Spiritual Rhythm: The calendar provides a natural ebb and flow between seasons of preparation, celebration, and reflection, helping Christians avoid spiritual stagnation.
Community Unity: Churches worldwide following the same calendar creates a sense of global Christian community, with believers sharing common seasonal focuses and scripture readings.
Balanced Faith: The calendar ensures that all aspects of Christian belief—from Christ's birth to his resurrection, from his teachings to his second coming—receive proper attention throughout the year.
Historical Connection: Following the liturgical calendar connects modern Christians with centuries of tradition, linking them to believers throughout history who have observed these same seasons.
Colors and Symbols
The liturgical calendar is often accompanied by specific colors that help visualize each season:
- Purple/Violet for Advent and Lent (preparation and penance)
- White/Gold for Christmas and Easter (celebration and joy)
- Green for Ordinary Time (growth and hope)
- Red for Pentecost and martyrs' feasts (the Holy Spirit and sacrifice)
Looking Ahead
As Christians move deeper into Ordinary Time 2025, this season offers opportunities for steady spiritual growth without the intensity of major celebrations or penitential periods. It's a time for developing consistent spiritual practices and deepening understanding of Christ's teachings.
Understanding the Christian calendar helps believers participate more fully in the rhythm of faith that has guided the church for centuries, providing structure and meaning to the spiritual journey throughout the year.