St Patrick’s Co-Cathedral in Ordinary Time
Steeple & Tree St Patrick's Co-Cathedral Downtown Billings, MT
This is the steeple of St Patrick’s Co-Cathedral here in Billings, Montana. A short lesson in terminology might be helpful.
From Wikipedia—Ordinary Time is a split season of the Christian (especially the Catholic) liturgical calendar. The Sundays after Christmas and Epiphany, the last 6 January, are Sundays in Ordinary Time. The others follow Pentecost. They do not fall under the “strong seasons” of Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter.
The English name is intended to translate the Latin term Tempus per annum (literally “time through the year”).
How do we get “Ordinary Time” from “time through the year”? I’m not sure: perhaps having something to do with being numbered? I didn’t realize that this is one of the unintended consequences of Vatican II. I think a better explanation is given here.
A mild touch of unexpected irony here is that the usual liturgical color for ordinary time is green. I didn’t notice that big green tree until after I uploaded the picture.
The season of Lent starts soon, Ash Wednesday to be specific, this year 17 February. Just a heads up so you aren’t embarrassed by mentioning that smudge on the forehead of your co-workers or worse, your boss.
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