Easter
Date of Easter
"The canonical rule is that Easter day is the first Sunday after the 14th day of the lunar month (the nominal full moon) that falls on or after 21 March (nominally the day of the vernal equinox). For determining the feast, Christian churches settled on a method to define a reckoned "ecclesiastical" full moon, rather than observations of the true Moon. Eastern Orthodox Christians calculate the fixed date of 21 March according to the Julian Calendar rather than the modern Gregorian Calendar, and use an ecclesiastical full moon that occurs four to five days later than the western ecclesiastical full moon."[1]
- The earliest possible date for Easter is March 22.
- The latest possible date for Easter is April 25.
Easter Season
- From Easter to Pentecost: a week of weeks (7 x 7 = 49, plus 1 = 50)
| Sun | Easter Sunday 1 |
Mercy Sunday 8 |
3rd Sunday 15 |
Good Shepherd Sunday 22 |
5th Sunday 29 |
6th Sunday 36 |
7th Sunday 43 |
Pentecost 50 |
| Mon | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | 37 | 44 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31 | 38 | 45 | |
| Wed | 4 | 11 | 18 | 25 | 32 | 39 | 46 | |
| Thu | 5 | 12 | 19 | 26 | 33 | Ascension | 47 | |
| Fri | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | 34 | 41 | 48 | |
| Sat | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 35 | 42 | 49 |
- Be mindful of Jesus' resurrection.
- Light some Easter candles.
- Pray for the outpouring of the spirit on Pentecost.
A Season of Mercy
The Second Sunday of Easter has been named "Divine Mercy Sunday." In the light of this feast, we can see that God's action in raising Jesus from the dead is an act of mercy for the whole world.
A Season of Mystagogia
Mystagogia means "instruction in the mysteries of the faith." After Baptism, the new Christians are schooled in the creed of the Church.
Good Shepherd Sunday
The fourth Sunday of Easter is "Good Shepherd Sunday," when John 10 is used for the gospel.
It is a traditional day to pray for vocations.
The Gospel of the Holy Spirit
The Acts of the Apostles is read sequentially on the weekdays of the Easter Season--cover to cover. Peter Kreeft calls Acts "the gospel of the Holy Spirit."