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{{Liturgical year}}
{{Liturgical year}}


'''Ordinary Time''' is a term used in the [[Christian]] (especially the [[Roman Catholic]]) [[liturgical]] calendar to refer, collectively, to two different seasons of the [[liturgical year]]. This is the time in which the [[Sunday]]s are not immediately related to either [[Christmas]] or [[Easter]].
'''Ordinary Time''' is a season of the [[Christian]] (especially the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]]) [[liturgical]] calendar. Ordinary Time is the periods which do not fall under the "strong seasons" of [[Advent]], [[Christmas]], [[Lent]], or [[Easter]]. The term ''Ordinary'' does not mean common or plain, but is derived from the term ''ordinal'' or "numbered." The weeks in ordinary time are numbered, although several Sundays are named for the feast they commemorate, such as the [[Baptism of the Lord]] (first Sunday of OT), [[Trinity Sunday]] (first Sunday after Pentecost) and the [[Feast of Christ the King]] (last Sunday in OT), and for American Catholics, the [[Feast of Corpus Christi]] (second Sunday after Pentecost).


The first of the two seasons usually begins on the Monday following the first Sunday after [[Epiphany (feast)|Epiphany]], which is observed on January 6, except that [[Roman Catholics]] in the [[United States]] celebrate this feast on the Sunday after the first Saturday in January. On the Sunday after January 6, the Feast of the [[Baptism of the Lord]] is observed in place of the first Sunday in Ordinary Time (if this falls on January 7 or 8, American Catholics move the Baptism feast to the following day as the Epiphany would occur on the Sunday), but the ensuing week is reckoned as the first week within Ordinary Time, which continues until [[Ash Wednesday]], the beginning of [[Lent]]. Thus the first section of Ordinary Time may consist of anywhere from four to nine weeks, depending upon how early or late [[Easter]] falls in a given year. It could end as early as [[February 3]] or as late as [[March 9]].
The season of Ordinary Time begins with the [[Baptism of the Lord]] (white), which always falls on the Sunday after January 6, the [[Epiphany (feast)|Feast of the Epiphany]] (white). (American Catholics have slightly altered the calendar so that Epiphany always falls on a Sunday.) The Baptism of the Lord, though a feast in its own right, marks the beginning of Ordinary Time, just as the event of Christ's baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry. The season of Ordinary Time continues until [[Ash Wednesday]] (violet), which marks the beginning of the Season of [[Lent]] (violet). Thus the period of Ordinary Time between Christmas and Lent may be of anywhere from four to nine weeks, depending upon the dates of Epiphany (American Catholics) and Ash Wendesday. Ash Wednesday is a [[Moveable feast|moveable feast]] based on the date of [[Easter]] (white/gold).


The second section of Ordinary Time begins on the day after [[Pentecost]] and continues until the first Sunday of [[Advent]] five or six months later. However, the weeks are numbered in such a manner as to ensure that the last Sunday before [[Advent]] (celebrated as the [[Feast of Christ the King|Solemnity of Christ The King]]) always takes the place of the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time, even though, in most years, the sum of the number of weeks of Ordinary Time before [[Lent]] and the number of weeks between [[Pentecost]] and [[Advent]] is actually 33 and not 34 (specifically, all years which begin on a Sunday or Monday and leap years which begin on a Saturday will have 34 such weeks while all other years contain 33, meaning that the liturgical year will have 33 ordinary weeks approximately 68 per cent of the time). This factor, combined with the fact that [[Pentecost]], [[Trinity Sunday]] and, in the [[Roman Catholic Church]] in the [[United States]], the feast of [[Corpus Christi (feast)|Corpus Christi]], preempt numbered Sundays in the series, means that at least three, and more commonly four, numbered Sundays end up being omitted each year.
The season of Ordinary Time resumes on the Monday following [[Pentecost|Pentecost Sunday]] (red) and continues through Saturday afternoon before the first Sunday of [[Advent]] (violet although some Protestants use light blue), some five or six months later. The last Sunday before [[Advent]] is celebrated as the [[Feast of Christ the King|Solemnity of Christ The King]] (red) and always takes the place of the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time.


In addition, certain solemnities and feasts that fall during Ordinary Time will preempt numbered Sundays in the series when the observance in question falls on a Sunday; these include, in the [[Roman Catholic]] calendar, any day that is a [[holy day of obligation]], along with certain other special days, such as the Presentation of the Lord (formerly known as [[Candlemas]], February 2), the birth of [[John the Baptist]] (June 24), the Solemnity of [[St. Peter]] and [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul]] (June 29), the [[Transfiguration]] (August 6), the Triumph Of The Cross (formerly known as [[Holy Cross Day]], September 14), [[All Souls Day]] (November 2), and the Dedication of (the [[basilica]] of) [[Basilica of St. John Lateran|St. John Lateran]] ([[November 9]]).
In addition, certain solemnities and feasts that fall during Ordinary Time will preempt numbered Sundays in the series when the observance in question falls on a Sunday; these include, in the [[Roman Catholic]] calendar, any day that is a [[holy day of obligation]], along with certain other special days, such as the Presentation of the Lord (formerly known as [[Candlemas]] (white), February 2), the birth of [[John the Baptist]] (red) (June 24), the [[Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul]] (red) (June 29), the [[Transfiguration]] (white) (August 6), the Triumph Of The Cross (formerly known as [[Holy Cross Day]](white/gold), September 14), [[All Souls Day]] (violet) (November 2), and the Dedication of (the [[basilica]] of) [[Basilica of St. John Lateran|St. John Lateran]] (white) ([[November 9]]).


Green [[vestment]]s are used during both of the periods that comprise Ordinary Time, and, unlike in the other seasons of the [[liturgical]] year, funeral services are permitted on Sundays during Ordinary Time in the [[Roman Catholic Church]].
With the exceptions marked above, Green is the liturgical color of Ordinary Time, and, unlike in the other seasons of the [[liturgical]] year, funeral services are permitted on Sundays during Ordinary Time in the Catholic Church.


The term ''Ordinary Time'' was invented at the [[Second Vatican Council]], and the new [[liturgical]] calendar including it took effect on the first Sunday of [[Advent]] in [[1969]] (before this the two seasons making up Ordinary Time were known as the season after Epiphany and the season after [[Pentecost]] respectively). Since then, many [[Protestant]] churches have also adopted the concept, which has won wide acceptance throughout the [[Christian]] community as a whole. The term ''Ordinary'' is not to be taken in the sense of common or plain, but as related to the word ''ordinal'', indicating that the weeks or numbered.
The term ''Ordinary Time'' was first used with the liturgical reforms which followed the [[Second Vatican Council]]. The reformed [[liturgical]] calendar took effect on the first Sunday of [[Advent]] in [[1969]] (before this there were two distinct seasons known as the season after Epiphany and the season after [[Pentecost]] respectively). Since then, many [[Protestant]] churches have also adopted the concept, along with the [[Common Lectionary]] which is based on the Catholic liturgical reforms of the late 1960's.


Some [[Protestant]] denominations (most notably the [[Methodist Church]]) set off the last 13 or 14 weeks of Ordinary Time into a separate season, known as [[Kingdomtide]].
Some [[Protestant]] denominations (most notably the [[Methodist Church]]) set off the last 13 or 14 weeks of Ordinary Time into a separate season, known as [[Kingdomtide]].

Revision as of 18:01, 11 May 2006

Ordinary Time is a season of the Christian (especially the Catholic) liturgical calendar. Ordinary Time is the periods which do not fall under the "strong seasons" of Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter. The term Ordinary does not mean common or plain, but is derived from the term ordinal or "numbered." The weeks in ordinary time are numbered, although several Sundays are named for the feast they commemorate, such as the Baptism of the Lord (first Sunday of OT), Trinity Sunday (first Sunday after Pentecost) and the Feast of Christ the King (last Sunday in OT), and for American Catholics, the Feast of Corpus Christi (second Sunday after Pentecost).

The season of Ordinary Time begins with the Baptism of the Lord (white), which always falls on the Sunday after January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany (white). (American Catholics have slightly altered the calendar so that Epiphany always falls on a Sunday.) The Baptism of the Lord, though a feast in its own right, marks the beginning of Ordinary Time, just as the event of Christ's baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry. The season of Ordinary Time continues until Ash Wednesday (violet), which marks the beginning of the Season of Lent (violet). Thus the period of Ordinary Time between Christmas and Lent may be of anywhere from four to nine weeks, depending upon the dates of Epiphany (American Catholics) and Ash Wendesday. Ash Wednesday is a moveable feast based on the date of Easter (white/gold).

The season of Ordinary Time resumes on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday (red) and continues through Saturday afternoon before the first Sunday of Advent (violet although some Protestants use light blue), some five or six months later. The last Sunday before Advent is celebrated as the Solemnity of Christ The King (red) and always takes the place of the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In addition, certain solemnities and feasts that fall during Ordinary Time will preempt numbered Sundays in the series when the observance in question falls on a Sunday; these include, in the Roman Catholic calendar, any day that is a holy day of obligation, along with certain other special days, such as the Presentation of the Lord (formerly known as Candlemas (white), February 2), the birth of John the Baptist (red) (June 24), the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (red) (June 29), the Transfiguration (white) (August 6), the Triumph Of The Cross (formerly known as Holy Cross Day(white/gold), September 14), All Souls Day (violet) (November 2), and the Dedication of (the basilica of) St. John Lateran (white) (November 9).

With the exceptions marked above, Green is the liturgical color of Ordinary Time, and, unlike in the other seasons of the liturgical year, funeral services are permitted on Sundays during Ordinary Time in the Catholic Church.

The term Ordinary Time was first used with the liturgical reforms which followed the Second Vatican Council. The reformed liturgical calendar took effect on the first Sunday of Advent in 1969 (before this there were two distinct seasons known as the season after Epiphany and the season after Pentecost respectively). Since then, many Protestant churches have also adopted the concept, along with the Common Lectionary which is based on the Catholic liturgical reforms of the late 1960's.

Some Protestant denominations (most notably the Methodist Church) set off the last 13 or 14 weeks of Ordinary Time into a separate season, known as Kingdomtide.