• History and Theology

Pascha: Unitary Annual Commemoration• Founded in Jewish Pesach / Massoth celebration• Quartodeciman: coordinate with Jewish

celebration as New Moon after the spring equinox• “Great Church”: Sunday after the New Moon after

the spring equinox• Themes:

– Pascha = transition

– Pascha = suffering

Quadragesima: Preparatory Period for Pascha?

• Counting backwards from Pascha 40 days (“Great Church”)– Sundays not counted– Sundays and Saturdays not counted

• Counting forwards from Epiphany (Egyptian?)

Pentecoste: Extension of Paschal Joy

• Founded in Jewish Shavuot celebration

• 7 weeks x 7 days + 1 = fulfillment of time

• “Tithe of the year”

Pre-Vatican II Roman Rite Celebration

• Preparation for the Preparation: Septuagesima / Sexagesima / Quinquagesima weeks

• Ash Wednesday• Sundays of Lent• Passion Sunday [initiates 2 week

Passiontide]• Palm Sunday [initiates Holy Week]

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of Holy Week = proclamation of synoptic Passions

• Holy Thursday– Tenebrae– Chrism Mass– Mass of the Lord’s Supper

• Good Friday– Tenebrae– Tre Ore– Formal Liturgy

• Holy Saturday

• Easter Sunday

• Easter Week

• Sundays After Easter

• Ascension Thursday

• Pentecost

• Octave of Pentecost

Post Vatican II Celebration

• Septuagesima / Sexagesima / Quinquagesima weeks suppressed

• Ash Wednesday retained with controverted status• First Sunday of Lent

– Synoptic Gospels of the Temptations

– Rite of Election

• Second Sunday of Lent– Synoptic Gospels of the Transfiguration

• Third Sunday of Lent– Cycle A: Man Born Blind– First Scrutiny– During Week: Presentation of the Creed

• Fourth Sunday of Lent– Cycle A: Woman at the Well– Second Scrutiny

• Fifth Sunday of Lent– Cycle A: Raising of Lazarus– Third Scrutiny– During Week: Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer– [Passiontide?]

• Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion– Holy Week?

• Holy Thursday– [Chrism Mass]– Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper– Liturgy of the Hours [Compline as conclusion of Eucharistic

Adoration]– Paschal Fast

• Good Friday– Morning Prayer– Office of Readings– Afternoon Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion [Liturgy of Word =

Rome / Veneration of Cross = Jerusalem / Communion = medieval Western

– Devotions [Tre Ore / Stations of the Cross]– Evening Prayer– Compline

• Holy Saturday– Rites with the Elect– Liturgy of the Hours

• Easter Vigil– Fire / Candle service– Vigil + Liturgy of the Word– Initiation Rites– Paschal Eucharist

• Easter Sunday– USA addition: Baptismal Promises + Sprinkling with

Easter Water– Vespers with the Neophytes

• [Easter Week?]– Mystagogy of the Neophytes [continued through

Pentecost]

• Second Sunday OF Easter– Gospel: Thomas’ profession of faith

• Third Sunday OF Easter– Resurrection Narratives [kerygma / empty tomb

/ appearances]

• Fourth Sunday OF Easter– Good Shepherd [Vocations]

• Fifth Sunday OF Easter– Ministries in the Church

• Sixth Sunday OF Easter– Promise of the Spirit

• Ascension of the Lord [or transferred]– Blowing out paschal candle suppressed– Initiates Novena of the Holy Spirit

• Seventh Sunday OF Easter– Gospel: Johannine High Priestly Prayer

• Pentecost– Vigil– Mass of the Day– Gathering with the Neophytes

• [Octave of Pentecost suppressed]