From the 1935 book, Catholic Liturgics, by Richard Stapper, S.T.D. (Spring-Summer, 2006) The ecclesiastical year originated in the annual observance of certain days in memory of Christ; these commemorative occurrences have a relation to one another and represent anew the historical progress and the supernatural benefits of the work of redemption. The divinely-instituted feasts of the Old Law served as models; these feasts were especially Easter and Pentecost, on which the “chosen people” gave thanks to God for definite benefits by the offering of sacrifice and public prayers. Paganism contributed toward the development of the ecclesiastical year in two respects: in some cases, pagan practices gave occasion for the institution of Christian practices to counteract them; in particular instances, when pagan feasts could receive a Christian meaning, they were displaced by Christian festivals. Just as the Christian era is reckoned from the birth of Christ, so it was a favorite