Salve all y'all:

We have returned to the "Ordinary Time" of our liturgical calendar.

What does "Ordinary Time" mean?"

In Latin it is "Tempus per Annum" or "Time during the year."

The English translates it into "ordinary time" which creates the impression that nothing is special "during this liturgical time." But that is not the case.

Notice the word "ordinary" has its root in the Latin "Ordo" which means "order."

Why "order?" What kind of order do we have?

Here are two groups of time:

(1) Mystery time:

a) Christmas time: Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.

b) Easter time: Lent, Easter and Divine Mercy.

These two periods help us reflect on the mystery of salvation: the Incarnation, Passion and Death, the Resurrection, Ascension of the Lord and the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. They all revolve around the mystery of salvation.

(2) Ministry time:

"Ordinary Time" means the "time of order" in which we order our time according to the life and ministry of Christ. It is a time for conversion and maturation in His Holy Spirit.

Here we focus on the Christ Who is alive and attentive to us in the present. On our part, we must allow His Holy Spirit to penetrate every part of our day and very being.

We begin with the Baptism of Christ which is a call to conversion and repentance. Then we will end the liturgical year with the Feast of Christ the King. From the beginning to the end, Christ is all in all.

Y'all could find this idea in the prayer of St. Patrick which is found in our PAPA HANDBOOK on page 48. It's the song "CHRIST BE BESIDE ME."

This is how we learn to pray and order our life during this "Time of Order."

Pax Christi