The Liturgical Year is an annual cycle of seasons and feasts that celebrates the Paschal Mystery, especially focusing on Christ's Death and Resurrection (Easter Cycle), and Birth (Christmas Cycle). The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "In the Liturgical Year the various aspects of the one Paschal mystery unfold. This is also the case with the cycle of feasts surrounding the mystery of the incarnation (Annunciation, Christmas, Epiphany). They commemorate the beginning of our salvation and communicate to us the first fruits of the Paschal mystery." (CCC 1171)

The celebration of the Liturgical Year is meant to draw the Catholic faithful into the Mystery of Christ, helping them to experience His divine life more fully and deeply. This includes remembering and celebrating the lives of the saints, especially Mary, the Mother of God: "By keeping the memorials of the saints - first of all the holy Mother of God, then the apostles, the martyrs, and other saints - on fixed days of the Liturgical Year, the Church on earth shows that she is united with the liturgy of heaven. She gives glory to Christ for having accomplished his salvation in his glorified members; their example encourages her on her way to the Father." (CCC 1195)

The Western and Eastern rites of the Catholic Church hold the major feast days and seasons in common, but differ on many of the solemnities and feasts. Below are the most important feast days, plus some of the feasts unique to the Eastern Catholic Churches.

In the season of Pentecost

September 1: The Beginning of the Church Year
September 8: Nativity of the Mother of God
September 14: Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross
October 1: Patronage of the Mother of God
October 14: Sunday of the Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council

Preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord

November 14: Philip the Apostle
November 15-December 24: St. Philip's Fast
November 21: Entrance of the Mother of God
December 6: Feast of St. Nicholas
December 8: Conception by Ann (Immaculate Conception)

Season of the Christmas cycle

December 25: Nativity of Our Lord
December 26: Synaxis of the Mother of God
December 27: Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr
January 1: Circumcision of our Lord
January 6: Theophany of Our Lord

Pre-Paschal season

January 28: Sunday of Zaccheus
January 30: Three Great Hierarchs
February 2: Encounter of our Lord with Simeon
February 4: Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
February 11: Sunday of Prodigal Son
February 18: Meat-fare Sunday
February 25: Cheesefare Sunday
February 26: Great Fast (Lent) begins

Sundays of Great Lent

March 4: First Sunday of Lent
March 11: Second Sunday of Lent
March 18: Veneration of the Holy Cross
March 25: Annunciation of the Mother of God
April 1: Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt

Holy Week

April 8: Palm Sunday
April 12: Holy Thursday
April 13: Good Friday
April 14: Holy Saturday
April 15: Easter Sunday, begins Season of Pentecost

Paschal Season

April 22: Sunday of Thomas
April 23: Feast of George, Great Martyr
April 29: Sunday of the Ointment-Bearing Women
May 6: Sunday of the Paralytic
May 9: Mid Pentecost (Wednesday)
May 13: Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
May 20: Sunday of the Man Born Blind
May 24: Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter)
May 27: Sunday of the Fathers of the First Council
June 3: Feast of Pentecost Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter)

June 10: 1st Sunday after Pentecost Sunday of All Saints

Continuing in the Season of Pentecost

June 24: The Birth of John the Baptist
June 29: Feast of SS Peter and Paul, Apostles
July 20: Feast of the Holy Prophet Elias
August 6: Transfiguration of Our Lord
August 15: Dormition of the Mother of God
August 29: Beheading of John the Baptist

For a history and detailed explanation of the Christian liturgical calendar, see the "Christian Calendar" entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

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