Catholic Calendar

In December we pass through the liturgical season of Advent into that of Christmas.  Advent represents the time of preparation for the coming of the Savior.  The liturgical color, representative of repentance and humility, is violet, except on the Third Sunday of Advent, traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday, when the color rose represents the joy of approaching the Christmas season.  The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8, is the patronal feast of the United States, and a holy day of obligation. The Christmas season begins with the vigil Mass of Christmas.  The … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – December 2020

November is a month to remember the departed, especially on All Souls' Day (Nov. 2). In November, we conclude a period of Ordinary time and the liturgical year with the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday, November 22. We open the new liturgical year with the first Sunday of the Advent season, November 29. Advent is a period of preparation for the Christmas season, and the liturgical color is violet. The Solemnity of All Saints, November 1, is a holy day of obligation. Thanksgiving Day falls on November 26. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF AUGUST November 1All SaintsSolemnityNovember … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – November 2020

The month of October still remains within Ordinary Time. October is a month dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF AUGUST October 1Theresa of the Child Jesus, VirginMemorialOctober 2Guardian AngelsMemorialOctober 7Our Lady of the RosaryMemorialOctober 15Teresa of Avila, Virgin and DoctorMemorialOctober 17Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and MartyrMemorialOctober 19John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions, MartyrsMemorialOctober 22Pope St. John Paul IIMemorialOctober 28Simon and Jude, ApostlesFeast THE BATTLE OF LEPANTO In the sixteenth century, … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – October 2020

The month of September is still part of Ordinary Time, with green being the liturgical vestment color. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF AUGUST September 3Gregory the Great, Pope and DoctorMemorialSeptember 14Exaltation of the Holy CrossFeastSeptember 16Cornelius, Pope and Martyr; Cyprian, Bishop and MartyrMemorialSeptember 21Matthew, Apostle and EvangelistFeastSeptember 23Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)MemorialSeptember 29Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, ArchangelsFeastSeptember 30Jerome, Priest and DoctorMemorial IRISH SAINTS OF SEPTEMBER September 1 Fiacre (d.c. 670) Fiacre was an … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – September 2020

The month of August falls entirely within the cycle of Ordinary Time. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, is a holy day of obligation. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF AUGUST August 1Alphonsus LigouriMemorialAugust 4John VianneyMemorialAugust 6Transfiguration of the LordFeastAugust 8DominicMemorialAugust 11ClareMemorialAugust 13Our Lady of KnockAugust 14Maximilian KolbeMemorialAugust 15Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MarySolemnityAugust 20BernardMemorialAugust 21Pius XMemorialAugust 24Bartholomew, ApostleFeastAugust 27MonicaMemorialAugust 28AugustineMemorial IRISH … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – August 2020

The month of July is comprised of Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar, the vestments being green. The calendar includes two saints of the Americas, Junipero Serra and Kateri Tekakwitha. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF JULY July 1Junipero SerraJuly 3Thomas, ApostleFeastJuly 6Maria Goretti, Virgin and MartyrJuly 11Benedict, AbbotMemorialJuly 14Kateri TekakwithaMemorialJuly 15Bonaventure, Bishop and DoctorMemorialJuly 16Our Lady of Mount CarmelJuly 22Mary MagdaleneFeastJuly 25James, ApostleFeastJuly 26Joachim and Ann, Parents of MaryMemorialJuly 29MarthaMemorialJuly 31Ignatius of … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – July 2020

To All Hibernians: In June we pass out of the Easter season, with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on the last Sundays, the 14th and 21st respectively. Trinity Sunday is the traditional date by which one has been expected to complete the "Easter duty," an impossibility in many places this year due to quarantine measures. On Sunday, June 21, we pass back into Ordinary time, and the color for vestments is green. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF JUNE June 1Justin MartyrMemorialJune 3Charles Lwanga & … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – June 2020

To All Hibernians: The month of May this year falls within the Easter season, the liturgical color being white, except on Pentecost Sunday, when it is red. The Ascension of the Lord, a solemnity and holy day of obligation, falls this year on May 21. Many dioceses of the United States transfer the Ascension to the following Sunday. As of this writing, most American dioceses remain in some version of a lockdown due to the pandemic, with Sunday and holy day Mass obligations suspended. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF MAY May 1 Joseph the Worker   May 2 Athanasius, Bishop and … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – May 2020

To All Hibernians: As so many dioceses around the country have curtailed or even stopped Masses open to the public, many Catholics may feel cut off or lost during this Lenten and Easter season. A wise priest made this observation: while we can be dispensed from the Church's precept directing obligatory Mass on Sunday, we are not dispensed from God's command (See: Moses, Third Commandment) to keep holy the Lord's Day. Any day of the week, there are online sources for the Mass, as well as Eucharistic adoration, Stations of the Cross, and other devotions. We also have the opportunity to … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – April 2020

To All Hibernians: In the month of March, we are entirely within the Lenten season, a season of penance leading up to Our Lord's Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The liturgical color for Lent is violet, except that rose may be worn on the Fourth Sunday, Laetare Sunday (March 22). Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence; all the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Check with your local parish or diocese for Lenten regulations on abstinence and fasting, for greater opportunities for confession, and for Lenten devotions such as Stations of the Cross. MAJOR … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – March 2020

To All Hibernians: February this year is a transitional month as far as the Church year is concerned. The first Sunday of the month, February 2, is The Presentation of the Lord, which calls for white vestments. The remaining Sundays are in Ordinary time--green vestments. Finally, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, falls on February 26, and we transition to violet vestments. As the penitential season of Lent approaches, check with your local diocese or parish for fast and abstinence regulations, as well as other opportunities for penance. IRISH SAINTS OF FEBRUARY February 1 … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – February 2020

To All Hibernians: In the early part of January, we are still within the Christmas season. The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (Jan. 1) is a holy day of obligation. At the Baptism of the Lord (January 12) , we pass from the Christmas season to a segment of Ordinary Time prior to the Lenten season, from the liturgical color white to green. In the month of January, two American saints are commemorated, Elizabeth Ann Seton (January 4) and John Neumann (January 5). In the United States, January 22 is a day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, in recognition of the Roe … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – January 2020

In December we begin a new liturgical year with the first Sunday of Advent (December 1) and pass through the liturgical season of Advent into that of Christmas. Advent represents the time of preparation for the coming of the Savior. The liturgical color, representative of repentance and humility, is violet, except on the Third Sunday of Advent, traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday, when the color rose represents the joy of approaching the Christmas season. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, usually celebrated on December 8, is celebrated this year on December 9, since the 8th is a … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – December 2019

In November, we conclude Ordinary time for the liturgical year with the Feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of the month (Nov. 24). November is a month to remember the departed, especially on All Souls' Day (Nov. 2). The Solemnity of All Saints (Nov. 1) is a holy day of obligation. Thanksgiving Day falls on November 28. NOTABLE SAINTS, SOLEMNITIES, AND FEAST DAYS November 1All SaintsSolemnity November 4Charles BorromeoMemorial November 9Dedication of Saint John LateranFeast November 13Frances Xavier CabriniMemorial November 15Albert the Great, Bishop and … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – November 2019

The month of October still remains within Ordinary Time. October is a month dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS Oct. 1 Theresa of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Memorial Oct. 2 Guardian Angels, Memorial Oct. 4 Francis of Assisi, Memorial Oct. 7 Our Lady of the Rosary, Memorial Oct. 11 Pope St. John XXIII Oct. 15 Teresa of Avila, Virgin and Doctor, Memorial Oct. 17 Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr, Memorial Oct. 18 Luke the Evangelist, Feast Oct. 19 John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions, Martyrs, … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – October 2019

The month of September is still part of Ordinary Time, with green being the liturgical vestment color. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF SEPTEMBER September 3 Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor Memorial September 13 John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor Memorial September 14 Exaltation of the Holy Cross Feast September 16 Cornelius, Pope and Martyr; Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr Memorial September 21 Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Feast September 27 Vincent De Paul, Priest Memorial September 30 Jerome, Priest and Doctor Memorial IRISH SAINTS OF … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – September 2019

To All Hibernians: The month of July is comprised of Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar, the vestments being green. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF JULY July 3 Thomas, Apostle Feast July 6 Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr July 11 Benedict, Abbot Memorial July 15 Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor Memorial July 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel July 22 Mary Magdalene Memorial July 25 James, Apostle Feast July 26 Joachim and Ann, Parents of Mary Memorial July 29 Martha Memorial July 31 Ignatius of Loyola, Priest Memorial IRISH SAINTS … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – July 2019