What is Ordinary Time?

Understanding Ordinary Time in the Catholic Church

In the rich tapestry of the Catholic liturgical year, seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter often capture the spotlight with their dramatic themes of preparation, incarnation, penance, and resurrection. Yet the longest season by far is Ordinary Time—a period that might sound mundane at first glance but holds profound spiritual significance. Far from being "ordinary" in the sense of boring or unimportant, this season invites Catholics to deepen their faith through the everyday living out of Christ's teachings.

 What is Ordinary Time?

Ordinary Time (known in Latin as Tempus per annum, meaning "time throughout the year") refers to those parts of the liturgical year that do not fall within the major seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter. It is the season dedicated to contemplating the fullness of Christ's life, teachings, miracles, and ministry in a more systematic way. The Sundays and weekdays focus on the mystery of Christ as revealed in the Gospels, encouraging conversion, spiritual growth, and maturation in faith.

The term "ordinary" comes from the Latin word ordinalis, referring to ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.). The weeks are simply numbered (e.g., First Week in Ordinary Time, Second Week, and so on), rather than tied to a specific feast or theme like other seasons. This numbering reflects an ordered, sequential counting of time. The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green, symbolizing hope, life, and growth in the Christian life.

Ordinary Time is a time when the mystery of Christ penetrates more deeply into daily history, guiding the faithful toward the ultimate goal of all creation: union with Christ, as celebrated on the final Sunday of the season, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

 Origins of Ordinary Time

The periods now called Ordinary Time have ancient roots in the Church's calendar, dating back to at least the fourth century, when the basic shape of the liturgical year emerged. Traditionally, these were known as the "Time after Epiphany" (or after the Baptism of the Lord) and the "Time after Pentecost." They were treated as two somewhat distinct periods influenced by the preceding feasts.

The modern name "Ordinary Time" and its unification as one season were formalized after the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) as part of the liturgical reforms in the 1969 revision of the Roman Missal. The term Tempus per annum replaced the older designations to emphasize the continuous, numbered progression of weeks throughout the year. While the structure is ancient, the specific terminology and treatment as a single season are products of post-Vatican II renewal.

 When Does Ordinary Time Begin and End, and How Long Is It?

Ordinary Time is divided into two segments:

1. First period: It begins on the Monday following the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (which usually occurs on the Sunday after January 6, the Epiphany) and continues until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (the start of Lent).  

   This segment is shorter, typically lasting 4–8 weeks, depending on the date of Easter.

2. Second period: It resumes on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday (the end of the Easter season) and lasts until the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent.  

   This is the longer portion, often around six months.

Overall, Ordinary Time comprises 33 or 34 weeks (and corresponding Sundays), making it the longest season in the liturgical year. The exact number varies each year based on how dates fall (e.g., the movable feasts of Easter and Pentecost). For example, in the 2026 liturgical year, it includes Weeks 1–6 (January 12–February 17) and Weeks 8–34 (May 25–November 28), totaling 33 weeks of Ordinary Time.

During this season, the Lectionary features semi-continuous readings from the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew in Year A, Mark in Year B, and Luke in Year C), allowing the Church to journey through nearly the entire public life of Jesus.

 Embracing the "Extraordinary" in the Ordinary

Ordinary Time reminds us that holiness is not confined to peak moments of celebration or penance—it is lived out in the routine, the daily, and the "numbered" days of life. It is a season for spiritual growth, where the seeds planted in the great feasts take root and bear fruit in everyday discipleship.

As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops describes it: Ordinary Time is "a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ."

So next time you hear "Ordinary Time," remember: it's anything but ordinary—it's the time when we live out the extraordinary mystery of Christ in our ordinary lives.

 Sources

- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), "Ordinary Time" — https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/ordinary-time

- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), "Liturgical Year and Calendar" — https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year

- Catholic Culture, "Ordinary Time Workshop" — https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=12022

- Wikipedia, "Ordinary Time" (for historical overview) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinary_Time

- General Roman Calendar and Liturgical Calendars for 2025–2026 (USCCB publications)