Liturgical Calendar Comparison
Traditional Liturgical Calendar (1962 Roman Missal)
Structure and Seasons
- Advent: Begins on the Sunday closest to November 30th and lasts until Christmas Eve.
- Christmas Season: Includes the Octave of Christmas, Epiphany, and the Feast of the Holy Family.
- Lent: Begins on Ash Wednesday and includes Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima Sundays.
- Easter Season: Includes the Octave of Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost.
- Time After Pentecost: Extends from Pentecost to the beginning of Advent.
Feast Days and Saints
The calendar includes many feasts and saints that were removed or moved in the Ordinary Form. Certain feasts, such as the Feast of the Holy Innocents, have different ranks and observances.
Liturgical Colors
The use of liturgical colors is more rigid, with specific colors assigned to particular feasts and seasons.
Readings and Prayers
The readings follow a one-year cycle, with specific readings assigned to each Sunday and feast day. The prayers and collects are more fixed and less subject to change.
Current Liturgical Calendar (Ordinary Form)
Structure and Seasons
- Advent: Begins on the Sunday closest to November 30th and lasts until Christmas Eve.
- Christmas Season: Includes the Octave of Christmas, Epiphany, and the Baptism of the Lord.
- Lent: Begins on Ash Wednesday and includes the Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday).
- Easter Season: Includes the Octave of Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost.
- Ordinary Time: Divided into two periods, one between Christmas and Lent, and the other between Pentecost and Advent.
Feast Days and Saints
The calendar includes new saints and feasts that were added after the Second Vatican Council. Some feasts have been moved to different dates or combined with other celebrations.
Liturgical Colors
The use of liturgical colors is more flexible, with options for certain feasts and seasons.
Readings and Prayers
The readings follow a three-year cycle for Sundays and a two-year cycle for weekdays, providing a broader selection of scripture. The prayers and collects are more varied and can be adapted to different contexts.
Key Differences
- Flexibility: The Ordinary Form allows for more flexibility in the use of readings, prayers, and liturgical colors.
- Scripture Readings: The Ordinary Form includes a wider range of scripture readings, ensuring that more of the Bible is read over the course of the liturgical year.
- Feast Days: The Traditional Calendar retains many older feasts and saints, while the Ordinary Form includes newer additions and some rearrangements.
Both calendars aim to guide the faithful through the mysteries of Christ's life and the history of salvation, but they do so with different emphases and structures. The Traditional Calendar is often preferred by those who appreciate its stability and historical continuity, while the Ordinary Form is valued for its inclusivity and adaptability.
