Liturgical Calendar
Introduction
Contents
- Background
- Pages giving a brief explanation of different elements concerning liturgical calendars. Where helpful a link to the relevant explanation will be provided in the sections below.
- Liturgical Calendar
- A liturgical calendar for the current and other years. Information is provided about Sunday and other celebrations. This information is being developed over the coming years.
- A table giving a Summary of dates can be found at the bottom of the page.
- Information is also included about the Universal Calendar (brief explanation) which is used by the whole Church.
- Calendar Notes
- Each year the Liturgy Office provides a summary of the Liturgical Calendar for the forthcoming year noting any particular changes. A draft list is provided for the following year.
- If you would like to receive an email when the Calendar Notes are available and notification of any changes that may occur send an email to the Liturgy Office.
- Liturgical Seasons
- In addition to the brief introduction the following pages give background notes and a compendium of materials from the site.
- Additions to the Universal Calendar
- The Roman Missal, 3rd edition, included a number of Saints who have been added to the Universal Calendar. Since its publication a number of other celebrations, such as St John XXIII, have also been included. A list of these Celebrations and a list of Lectionary Readings is available. Additions to the National Calendars for England and for Wales are given with the information for those Calendars — see next section.
- National Calendar
- Details of the National Calendars for:
- Documents
- The following Church documents on celebrating the liturgical year are available:
- Table of Rubrics
- The table of rubrics gives details of when celebrations using the formularies from Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, Votive Masses, and Masses for the Dead are permitted within the liturgical year.
- Moveable Feasts
- A page giving a table of moveable feasts up to 2050 with downloadable pdf file
- Table of Sundays
- Apart from the Seasons of Lent and Easter each Sunday of the Year is tied to a range of dates - this table gives details.
- Holydays of Obligation
- Bold entries in the table below denote Holydays of Obligation in England and Wales. From the 1st Sunday of Advent 2017 (3 December) the number of Holydays in England and Wales will change. The Epiphany of the Lord, The Ascension of the Lord will be celebrated on 6 January and Thursday in the 6th Week of Easter respectively. This is shown in the table below. For more details see the Holydays page.
- Holydays of Obligation in England and Wales:
- Every Sunday
- Nativity of the Lord (25 December)
- Epiphany of the Lord (6 January*)
- Ascension of the Lord (Thursday after 6th Sunday of Easter)
- St Peter & St Paul (29 June*)
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15 August*)
- All Saints (1 November*)
- * According to a decision of the Bishops' Conference (1984) Holydays which fall on Saturday or Monday are transferred to the Sunday.