Christian Calendar

• Advent season typically begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, focusing on themes of hope, peace, joy, and love as Christians prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ
• Advent concludes on Christmas Eve, December 24th
• In Western Christianity, the Christmas season ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, typically falling on the Sunday after January 6th, known as Epiphany or Three Kings' Day
• Short Ordinary Time in the Catholic liturgical calendar begins after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and ends on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
• Paschal Triduum is a three-day liturgical period starting on the evening of Holy Thursday and concluding on the evening of Easter Sunday
• Easter season begins with Easter Sunday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and lasts for 50 days, concluding with Pentecost Sunday
• Feast of Christ the King marks the end of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church, celebrated on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time
• Triduum consists of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, symbolizing the major events in the life and redemption of Jesus Christ
• Holy Week (Semana Santa) is the celebration of the Christian Church commemorating events from Palm Sunday through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday
• Easter Sunday (Pasko ng Pagkabuhay) celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, signifying the triumph of life and hope over death
• During March to April, Christians reflect on important events in the life of Jesus Christ, from his entry into Jerusalem to his resurrection from the dead
• The Synoptic Gospels refer to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, portraying events in the life of Jesus Christ with similarities
• The Gospel of Matthew is believed to have been written by the apostle Matthew, a tax collector who became a disciple of Jesus
• The Gospel of Mark, written by Mark, a disciple of Peter, is known for its brevity and directness in narrating the events in the life of Jesus Christ
• The Gospel of Luke, written by Luke, a doctor and companion of Paul, is one of the Synoptic Gospels
• Lent is a period of 40 days marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding at sundown on Holy Thursday
• During Lent, Christians engage in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to deepen their faith, self-discipline, and compassion as they reflect on the passion and sacrifice of Jesus
• Lent is a moveable feast, its dates changing yearly based on the lunar calendar
• Biblical numbers:

  • One (1): Represents unity, singularity, and the oneness of God
  • Three (3): Symbolizes completeness and divine perfection, associated with the Trinity
  • Four (4): Represents earthly completeness or universality
  • Seven (7): Symbolizes perfection, completeness, and divine fulfillment
• Three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, fundamental for spiritual growth and preparation for Easter
• The Paschal Mystery encompasses the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
• The Triduum, meaning "three days," in the Catholic Church's Liturgical Calendar, includes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday
• Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus' Last Supper, the Institution of the Eucharist and Holy Orders, the Washing of the Feet, and offers special reverence for the Eucharistic gifts
• Good Friday commemorates Jesus' Death on the Cross at Golgotha, observed through the Veneration of the Cross, distribution of Holy Communion, and the Burial of Christ
• Holy Saturday is a day of prayer and remembrance of Jesus' descent into the realm of the dead, culminating in the Easter Vigil Mass symbolizing the rekindling of Jesus' light in the world and his Resurrection
• The Paschal Triduum is a time of repentance, reflection, and preparation for Christians to examine their faith and hope by meditating on the events in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
• Context Clues is a technique to improve reading comprehension by indicating the intended meaning of a word by the writer or speaker
• Types of Context Clues:

  • Synonym clues use words or phrases similar in meaning to the unknown word, signaled by words like, as, or, also, and and
  • Antonym clues contrast the meaning of an unfamiliar word with a familiar term, signaled by words like although, however, unlike, and but
  • Example Clues clarify the meaning of a word with specific details in the text, signaled by words like like, including, such as, and for example
  • Definition Clues are signaled by forms of the verb to be or by commas or dashes, following words like is, means, is defined as, refers to, and em dash (---)
  • Explanation Clues explain unknown words within or preceding the sentence, signaled by words like because, that is
• Denotation is the precise, literal definition of a word found in a dictionary
• Connotation refers to the feelings or ideas associated with a word