Christians live by a different calendar than everyone else. The Christian year begins four Sundays before Christmas on the first day of Advent. That calendar includes the holidays of Christmas and Easter, but also includes Epiphany, Pentecost, the periods of Ordinary time, and seasons like Lent and Advent. This is the rhythm that many Christians have taken part in year after year. Joan Chittister does a excellent job of asking how Christians live out this calendar year after year in The Liturgical Year. The Liturgical Year, or Christian Calendar as some call it, gives a constant reminder of what Jesus did while he was in the world we do in this world because of his life, death, and resurrection.While this book does not give a in depth description or history of each holiday and season, Chittister describes the emotion and practices associated with each part of the year. She explains how the year affects the lives of Christians. This book does a fantastic job of taking someone through the year in a succinct, understandable, and almost devotional manner. I would suggest that one could read this book throughout the course of one liturgical year. Reading this in the Advent and Christmas season I found myself moved by the discussion of Advent and Christmas. This definitely something I will pick up through the year to reflect on the changing of the Christian seasons. If you are unfamiliar with the church calendar, you should consider picking up this book.
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