Dom Prosper Gueranger wrote a multi-volume series on the liturgical year over 100 years ago. It's still highly regarded, though I find his language a little flowery for my taste. It's worth noting that "ordinary time" is a modern invention, unknown to our ancestors. For them, Epiphany followed Christmas until Septuagesima, which prepared the way for Lent. Then the post Easter time was counted as "after Pentecost". These, I think, are far better than "ordinary time" as they refer to key events in the church year.
If you're interested in seasons, Winters in the World by Eleanor Parker may be right up your street. It goes through the Anglo Saxon year, interweaving church and nature, well worth reading. Last week we had Roodmas, now we're heading to Michaelmas, for example.
That series has been on my to-read list! I always take issue with the modern Ordinary Time distinctions as well, and I find that I lean toward the modern Anglican terminology - dubbing OT as Epiphanytide and the Season After Pentecost.
I LOVE Winters in the World, and Dr. Parker so kindly has sent a signed copy my way to offer as a giveaway - I'm so excited. Her book is phenomenal; I also love her weekly Patreon posts, which connect even more dots. She's been hugely helpful to me in finding obscure hymns, etc.
I was brought up prayer book Anglican ( converted to Catholicism) and I loved the word Septuagesima, which I thought so mysterious! I now attend mainly TLM which of course still has these older practices and terminology. I'm currently reading Dom Virgil Michel's book called The Liturgy of the Church (1937) and coincidentally after this post I began the next chapter, which turned out to be The Liturgical Year. Lots of good stuff in this book.
Adding that book to my list now! I also love the more bygone tradition of the Sexagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays. Lent especially sends me down a whole rabbithole with the smaller patterns that exist within it but are now often lost to modern sensibilities.
I attended TLM once and it was beautiful, but I'm very unfamiliar. I'm an in-betweener, as I'm not Catholic (tried RCIA once, but that's a whole story in itself), but especially in reading about calendar history, I often find the 20th century reforms of the calendar to be a bummer!
Pilgrim, we found all but 2 or 3 of those books at our local Half Price for $2/each a few years back and bought them without having any idea what they are. James was over the moon when he learned more, and made a coworker “green with jealous rage” 😂 who had been looking for a copy for years. Our season of attending the TLM weekly has drawn to a close, but he still references them quite frequently.
Oh dear...I didn't see this until now. It's wonderful, Kristin. My family & I were just reading about Ordinary Times last evening. I'm bookmarking this post so I don't lose it (I wonder why I missed it?) Regardless, I'm so glad you wrote it...my Pennsylvania German ancestors while mostly sect, Reformed and Lutheran, had a deep connection to their folk religion -- rooted in the medieval church. Your essays have been so enjoyable & educational to me. Thank you! ♡
Oh my goodness, that fills my heart up - thank you so much, Jessica. Modern sensibilities try to tell us that folk traditions & religion are incompatible or mutually exclusive, whereas the ancient & Medieval church (for all its foibles) really had a much more integrated approach!
There's a book you may enjoy..."Popular Religion in Late Saxon England: Elf Charms in Context" by Karen Louise Jolly. "Jolly describes a dual process of conversion in which Anglo-Saxon culture became Christianized but at the same time left its own distinct imprint on Christianity."
It's been such a treat getting to connect with you & learn from you here! I love your perspective and your writing.
I am so excited to read your book suggestion, Kristin. In this area we have knowledge of a number of house sprites, elves, etc., belief in which was carried here from 'the old country.' Often, if these inhabitants are appeased with bowls of milk, pretzel crumbs, etc. they bless (rather than curse) a household! In early newspapers of Pennsylvania I read references to kobolds a lot!
PA German beliefs are deeply rooted in European customs, ceremonies, rites & rituals - Roman Catholic + post-Reformation mystical elements of Pietism. Much of what had been discarded by the orthodox religion was maintained by the people and practiced as folk religion. Our healing rituals (known as braucherei) rely heavily on invocations to the Virgin Mary and the whole hierarchy of saints. When I first learned about these rituals and I was reading liturgical prayers (like, Ava Maria) I was so perplexed...my Pap practiced braucherei and he was Lutheran...I couldn't wrap my head around why braucherei invocations were often tied to the natural world & the Catholic saints. After much research, my mind was blown. Finally, my personal beliefs, my interest in simpling and mystical elements (in fact, many of my interests!) began to just feel 'right.'
I'm so glad to have found you here. (And, also on IG...but honestly, HERE is quieter). ♡
I'm so glad to connect with you here, too (and yes, isn't it nice to have a quieter space than IG?!) I always felt like I had one foot in two worlds until I started to learn more about the historical integration of all these things...our ancestors acknowledged how thin the veil really is, and also laced all their daily moments with prayer. I LOVE all those prayers said over churning butter, milking cows, etc.
And yes, the house sprites, etc! I love it. I know nothing about braucherei but now have a new rabbit-hole to dive down...thank you!
I am new here and was racking my brain, trying to remember the name of the book that started me on this learning path about liturgy and the seasons. Then a Catholic Pilgrim kindly mentions Dr. Parker's book and hey, I realise I am among friends. Newly returned to the Catholic faith having been born into and brought up in a staunch Catholic family, so this is 'new' but old. I am enjoying this a great deal and your description of why we 'do' liturgy encapsulates what I have missed about the Catholic Mass all these years - worship in our daily lives.
Oh Catherine, it's such a joy to connect with a kindred spirit like you here! I really feel like the liturgical calendar is such a treasure of faith-building potential..."ever ancient, ever new", to borrow words from St. Augustine. Thank you for being here...I look forward to learning alongside you!
Dom Prosper Gueranger wrote a multi-volume series on the liturgical year over 100 years ago. It's still highly regarded, though I find his language a little flowery for my taste. It's worth noting that "ordinary time" is a modern invention, unknown to our ancestors. For them, Epiphany followed Christmas until Septuagesima, which prepared the way for Lent. Then the post Easter time was counted as "after Pentecost". These, I think, are far better than "ordinary time" as they refer to key events in the church year.
If you're interested in seasons, Winters in the World by Eleanor Parker may be right up your street. It goes through the Anglo Saxon year, interweaving church and nature, well worth reading. Last week we had Roodmas, now we're heading to Michaelmas, for example.
That series has been on my to-read list! I always take issue with the modern Ordinary Time distinctions as well, and I find that I lean toward the modern Anglican terminology - dubbing OT as Epiphanytide and the Season After Pentecost.
I LOVE Winters in the World, and Dr. Parker so kindly has sent a signed copy my way to offer as a giveaway - I'm so excited. Her book is phenomenal; I also love her weekly Patreon posts, which connect even more dots. She's been hugely helpful to me in finding obscure hymns, etc.
I was brought up prayer book Anglican ( converted to Catholicism) and I loved the word Septuagesima, which I thought so mysterious! I now attend mainly TLM which of course still has these older practices and terminology. I'm currently reading Dom Virgil Michel's book called The Liturgy of the Church (1937) and coincidentally after this post I began the next chapter, which turned out to be The Liturgical Year. Lots of good stuff in this book.
Adding that book to my list now! I also love the more bygone tradition of the Sexagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays. Lent especially sends me down a whole rabbithole with the smaller patterns that exist within it but are now often lost to modern sensibilities.
I attended TLM once and it was beautiful, but I'm very unfamiliar. I'm an in-betweener, as I'm not Catholic (tried RCIA once, but that's a whole story in itself), but especially in reading about calendar history, I often find the 20th century reforms of the calendar to be a bummer!
Pilgrim, we found all but 2 or 3 of those books at our local Half Price for $2/each a few years back and bought them without having any idea what they are. James was over the moon when he learned more, and made a coworker “green with jealous rage” 😂 who had been looking for a copy for years. Our season of attending the TLM weekly has drawn to a close, but he still references them quite frequently.
That was a good buy! They're expensive.
Oh dear...I didn't see this until now. It's wonderful, Kristin. My family & I were just reading about Ordinary Times last evening. I'm bookmarking this post so I don't lose it (I wonder why I missed it?) Regardless, I'm so glad you wrote it...my Pennsylvania German ancestors while mostly sect, Reformed and Lutheran, had a deep connection to their folk religion -- rooted in the medieval church. Your essays have been so enjoyable & educational to me. Thank you! ♡
Oh my goodness, that fills my heart up - thank you so much, Jessica. Modern sensibilities try to tell us that folk traditions & religion are incompatible or mutually exclusive, whereas the ancient & Medieval church (for all its foibles) really had a much more integrated approach!
There's a book you may enjoy..."Popular Religion in Late Saxon England: Elf Charms in Context" by Karen Louise Jolly. "Jolly describes a dual process of conversion in which Anglo-Saxon culture became Christianized but at the same time left its own distinct imprint on Christianity."
It's been such a treat getting to connect with you & learn from you here! I love your perspective and your writing.
I am so excited to read your book suggestion, Kristin. In this area we have knowledge of a number of house sprites, elves, etc., belief in which was carried here from 'the old country.' Often, if these inhabitants are appeased with bowls of milk, pretzel crumbs, etc. they bless (rather than curse) a household! In early newspapers of Pennsylvania I read references to kobolds a lot!
PA German beliefs are deeply rooted in European customs, ceremonies, rites & rituals - Roman Catholic + post-Reformation mystical elements of Pietism. Much of what had been discarded by the orthodox religion was maintained by the people and practiced as folk religion. Our healing rituals (known as braucherei) rely heavily on invocations to the Virgin Mary and the whole hierarchy of saints. When I first learned about these rituals and I was reading liturgical prayers (like, Ava Maria) I was so perplexed...my Pap practiced braucherei and he was Lutheran...I couldn't wrap my head around why braucherei invocations were often tied to the natural world & the Catholic saints. After much research, my mind was blown. Finally, my personal beliefs, my interest in simpling and mystical elements (in fact, many of my interests!) began to just feel 'right.'
I'm so glad to have found you here. (And, also on IG...but honestly, HERE is quieter). ♡
I'm so glad to connect with you here, too (and yes, isn't it nice to have a quieter space than IG?!) I always felt like I had one foot in two worlds until I started to learn more about the historical integration of all these things...our ancestors acknowledged how thin the veil really is, and also laced all their daily moments with prayer. I LOVE all those prayers said over churning butter, milking cows, etc.
And yes, the house sprites, etc! I love it. I know nothing about braucherei but now have a new rabbit-hole to dive down...thank you!
Just found you from notes and love how you wrote this! I am always so excited to find other seasonal/liturgical/nature-inclined mothers here!
I'm so glad we've connected!! Thanks for your kind words and for reaching out. It's wonderful to meet another liturgical/seasonal mom here!
This has my creative mind going!
I am new here and was racking my brain, trying to remember the name of the book that started me on this learning path about liturgy and the seasons. Then a Catholic Pilgrim kindly mentions Dr. Parker's book and hey, I realise I am among friends. Newly returned to the Catholic faith having been born into and brought up in a staunch Catholic family, so this is 'new' but old. I am enjoying this a great deal and your description of why we 'do' liturgy encapsulates what I have missed about the Catholic Mass all these years - worship in our daily lives.
Oh Catherine, it's such a joy to connect with a kindred spirit like you here! I really feel like the liturgical calendar is such a treasure of faith-building potential..."ever ancient, ever new", to borrow words from St. Augustine. Thank you for being here...I look forward to learning alongside you!
Wow