Question 161: Why do you follow the Church Year?

Answer:

I follow the Church Year because it shapes my life around the saving work of Jesus Christ. It helps me remember and enter into His birth, death, resurrection, and reign through seasons of reflection, celebration, and hope. By walking through the Church Year, I grow in faith, am formed as a disciple, and learn to see all of time in light of God’s redeeming grace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, Luke 2:10–11, Romans 13:11–12, 2 Timothy 2:8)

Full Scripture References

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (BSB)

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!’” — Luke 2:10–11 (BSB)

“And do this, knowing the time. It is already the hour for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near.” — Romans 13:11–12 (BSB)

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel.” — 2 Timothy 2:8 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

I follow the Church Year because it orders my time according to the life of Jesus, not the patterns of the world. It draws me into the rhythm of grace—helping me remember, reflect on, and rejoice in the saving acts of God. The Church Year teaches me to hope in Advent, to worship in Christmas, to witness in Epiphany, to repent in Lent, to rejoice in Easter, and to walk in the Spirit through Pentecost and Ordinary Time.

Rather than letting time pass aimlessly, the Church Year gives meaning to each season of my life by keeping Christ at the center. It renews my faith through repetition and deepens my understanding through reflection. The Church does not merely remember the Gospel with words—it remembers with time.

Canon Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) writes, “Following the Church Year forms the soul over time. It immerses us again and again in the story of Jesus, until His story becomes our story.”

Bishop Keith Ackerman (Diocese of Quincy, ACNA) explains, “The Church Year is not about nostalgia—it’s about formation. It trains us to watch, to wait, to rejoice, and to grieve, all in union with Christ.”

J.C. Ryle, though cautious about empty ritual, saw value in holy remembrance: “The Church does wisely to lead us to the cradle, the cross, and the crown year by year. Let us not forget what Christ has done.” (Practical Religion, 1878)

Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA) has said, “The Church Year walks us through the Gospel again and again. It shapes our memory, sharpens our hope, and points our hearts to Jesus in every season.”

By following the Church Year with faith and reverence, I grow in my love for Christ, deepen my understanding of Scripture, and learn to see my daily life in the light of eternity.

Early Church Fathers on Catechism Question

St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD): “The feasts of the Church are not dead customs—they are living invitations to meditate on the wonders of God. Time is redeemed when it is given to Christ.” — Sermon 202

St. Gregory Nazianzus (c. 329–390 AD): “The holy days are not only for remembering—they are for becoming. Let each season find you growing in the image of the One it proclaims.” — Oration 38, On Theophany

St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461 AD): “Each solemn day teaches us something of Christ. As the year progresses, so must our faith. Let the calendar instruct the soul.” — Sermon 12, On the Nativity

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD): “The Church orders time so that the people of God may never forget His wonders. Each season is a window into the mystery of salvation.” — Catechetical Lectures, 18.24