Dear Parishioners,

This weekend marks the last day of the Christmas season. I hope that it was a time of peace and renewed faith. That means Monday is officially the first day of Ordinary Time. The term “ordinary” comes from the word meaning “to count” which is why we speak of these weeks in terms of their number. It is the longest of all the seasons of the year, though it gets broken up by the seasons of Lent, Sacred Paschal Triduum, Easter, Advent, and Christmas. So, while there are thirty-three or thirty-four weeks in Ordinary Time, it is not contiguous throughout the fifty-two weeks in the year.  In the season of Ordinary Time, there is no focus on the particular aspects of the mysteries of Christ, but rather, “the mystery of Christ itself is honored in its fullness, especially on Sundays (Universal Norms, 43).

During Ordinary Time, the Eucharistic Prayers for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions with its proper prefaces and corresponding intercessions may fitting be used. These Eucharistic Prayers are not used in the seasons outside of Ordinary Time, but rather “in certain situations either as occasion arises or at fixed times.” (General Instructions of the Roman Missal 373). So occasionally, you might hear one of these four Eucharistic Prayers. I find them beautiful, and the change in some of the common wording we are used to bring the congregation (and the presider) to a greater awareness of the prayer being offered. 

In the early Church, there was not a selection of liturgical colors that we have today, therefore the priest likely wore white, the common formal attire of gentlemen in time of the Roman Empire. Pope Innocent III (d. 1216) established our official liturgical colors (De sacro altaris mysterio, Book I, chapter 65). Green as the color for Ordinary Time is supposed to remind us of hope, life, and anticipation—all intended as faith-filled events in our day-to-day experiences,. Some parishioners have often reminded me that green is rather reminiscent of the Oregon Ducks (griin!), the winners of the 2020 Rosebowl! And on that note, I will bring this column to an end.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor