Introduction to the Feasts of the Church

1. Every week, on Sunday, the Church celebrates the Day of the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This day commemorates the beginning of the new creation, the victory of life over death.

2. The most important period in the year for the Church is the period before and after Easter, the annual commemoration of Jesus' death and resurrection:
The date of Easter in the Catholic Church is fixed as follows: the first Sunday after the full moon after the spring equinox (March 21).
The Easter cycle begins with a forty day preparatory period called Lent, a time of fasting and penitence, initiated on Ash Wednesday.
This period leads into Holy Week, which begins with the commemoration of Jesus' royal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
The final three days of Holy Week are set aside as a special time of solemnity: Holy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist, Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion and burial, and Holy Saturday, the day of rest in the tomb.
Easter Sunday, the celebration of the Resurrection, begins with a night vigil and mass on Saturday.
The seven weeks after Easter are a time to prepare for the feast of Pentecost.
On the fortieth day, Ascension Thursday, the church celebrates Jesus' ascension into heaven.
On the fiftieth day, Pentecost commemorates the gift to the Church of the Holy Spirit.
In the weeks following Pentecost, the Catholic Church commemorates the Holy Trinity, the Body and Blood of Christ and other feasts that help inculcate the gifts of the Easter period.

3. The second most important period in the year is the period before and after Christmas, the annual celebration of Jesus' birth.
The Christmas cycle begins with four weeks of waiting called Advent, a time of penitence and preparation.
This period leads up to the Feast of the Nativity, Christmas, on the night of December 24.
Eight days later, on January 1, the Church remembers the circumcision of Jesus and the motherhood of Mary.
On January 6, the Church celebrates the homage given to the Child Jesus by the three wise men. And a week later celebrates the Feast of the Baptism.
Forty days after Christmas, on February 2, the Church remembers the presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

4. In addition to these two major cycles, the Catholic Church celebrates a variety of other feasts.
There are feasts connected to the person of Jesus and his life.
There are feasts connected to the person of Mary, the Blessed Virgin, and her life.
There are feasts that commemorate the multitude of saints that have shown Christians how to live Christ's message in an exemplary way.