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Holy Days


Click here to view "The Year of Grace 2012- Guide to the Liturgical Year"


Holy Days of Obligation with Special Seasons and Feasts

    2011 2012
Feast Celebration of Holy Days of
Obligation
Seasons and
Feasts
Holy Days of
Obligation
Seasons and
Feasts
 Sunday The Resurrection of Our Lord  Sundays   Sundays   
Mary,
Mother of God 
Our Lady's divine maternity    Saturday,
Jan.1 
Sunday,
Jan.1 
 
Epiphany  Our Lord's manifestation to the world through the visit of the magi  Sunday,
January 2 
  Sunday,
January 8 
 
Baptism of the Lord  Close of the Christmas Season  Sunday,
January 9 
     Monday,
January 9
Ash Wednesday+  Beginning of Lent which lasts until the evening Mass of the Lords Supper on Holy Thursday night     Mar. 9    Feb. 22
 Passion \ Palm Sunday The Lord's entrance into Jerusalem and His betrayal. Begins Holy Week.  Sunday
April 17 
  Sunday
April 1 
 
Holy Thursday  Mass of the Lord's Supper     April 21   April 5 
 Good Friday The Lord's Passion     April 22   April 6 
 Holy Saturday The Great Easter Vigil*    April 23
[2] 
  April 7
[3] 
Easter Sunday  The Lord's Resurrection and Appearance. Begins the 50 Days of Easter   April 24   April 8   
 Ascension of Christ The Ascension of Our Lord  Sunday,
June 5 
  Sunday,
May 20 
 
 Pentecost The Gift of the Holy Spirit. Closes the Easter Season.  Sunday,
June 12 
  Sunday,
May 27 
 
Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)  Our Lord's Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament  Sunday
June 26 
   Sunday
June 10
 
Assumption  Assumption of Mary Into Heaven    Monday,
August 15 [1] 
Wednesday, August 15   
All Saints  Celebration of those God has brought into heaven and how they model Christ to us  Tuesday,
Nov. 1 
   Thursday,
Nov. 1
 
 Christ the King Final Sunday of Church Year  Sunday,
November 20 
   Sunday,
November 25
 
1st Sunday of Advent  1st Sunday of Church Year and beginning of four-week preparation for Christmas.  Sunday
November 27  
  Sunday
December 2 
 
Immaculate Conception  Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Patronal Feast of the United States   Thursday,
Dec. 8
  Saturday,
Dec. 8 
 
Christmas  The Birth of Our Lord  Sunday,
Dec. 25 
   Tuesday,
Dec. 25
 
Christmas Season  Christmas through Baptism of Our Lord  December 25, 2012 �
January 13, 2013  

[1] At their November 1991 meeting, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops decided that whenever January 1, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God or August 15, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin or November 1, the Feast of all Saints falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the precept to celebrate Mass is dispensed. The Congregation for Bishops confirmed the action on July 4, 1992.

Although the obligation to celebrate Mass when these three holy days fall on a Saturday or Monday is abolished, parishes are to continue to observe these holydays by scheduling one or more Masses at a convenient time so that people who wish to participate are able to do so.

+ Lenten Days of Fast, Abstinence, and Penance

All Fridays of Lent are Days of Abstinence

Abstinence means not eating meat. All persons 14 years and older are bound by the law of abstinence.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are Days of both Fast and Abstinence

Fasting allows one full meal, but a light breakfast and lunch are not forbidden. All adults, 18 up to the beginning of their sixtieth (60) year, are bound by the law of fasting. Pastors and parents are to see to it that children while not bound to the law of fast and abstinence are educated and introduced to an authentic sense of penance.

On Fridays, when abstinence is not required by law, acts of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety are suggested. Abstinence from meat is especially recommended but under no obligation by law.

* The Easter Vigil, during the holy night when Christ rose from the dead, ranks as the "mother of all vigils."11 Keeping watch, the Church awaits Christ's resurrection and celebrates it in the sacraments. Accordingly, the entire celebration of this vigil should take place at night, that is, it should either begin after nightfall or end before the dawn of Sunday (General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, no. 21).

[2] Easter Vigil 2011 � Easter Vigil should not begin before 8:30 pm CDT

[3] Easter Vigil 2012 � Easter Vigil should not begin before 8:30 pm CDT