Liturgical Calendar | Introduction

Liturgical Calendar

Introduction

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 Liturgical Calendar prepared for Schools is also available.
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.

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:

Calendar Tables

Table of Liturgical Days
When two celebrations fall on the same day this table, taken from the Universal Norms, gives the order of precedence.
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 2060 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.

Summary Table of Liturgical Dates
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Lectionary (Sunday/Weekday)B/IC/IIA/IB/IIC/1A/II
First Sunday of Advent29 November 202028 November 202127 November 20223 December 20231 December 202430 November 2025
Nativity of the Lord25 December25 December25 December25 December25 December25 December
Epiphany6 January6 January6 January7 January5 January6 January
Ash Wednesday17 February2 March22 February14 February5 March18 February
Easter Sunday4 April17 April9 April31 March20 April5 April
Ascension13 May26 May18 May9 May29 May14 May
Pentecost23 May5 June28 May19 May8 June24 May
The Body and Blood of the Lord6 June19 June11 June2 June22 June7 June
St Peter & St Paul29 June29 June29 June30 June29 June28 June
Assumption15 August14 August15 August15 August15 August16 August
All Saints31 October1 November1 November1 November2 November1 November
First Sunday of Advent28 November27 November3 December1 December30 November29 November
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