Solemnities
Ordinary Time
- The Most Holy Trinity
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord
- The Most Sacred Heart
- St David
- St Joseph
- The Annunciation of the Lord
- St George
- The Nativity of St John the Baptist
- St Peter and St Paul
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- All Saints
- Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
- The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Anniversary of Dedication
- Patronal Solemnity
Sundays
- Advent
- Christmas
- Ordinary Time I [Sundays 2–9]
- Lent
- Triduum
- Easter
- Solemnities [Ordinary Time II]
- Ordinary Time III [Sundays 8–15]
- Ordinary Time IV [Sundays 16–24]
- Ordinary Time V [Sundays 25–34]
- Feasts of the Lord
Documentation
This page contains Solemnities many of which can replace the Sunday
- The Solemnities of the Birth of the Lord; Mary, Mother of God; the Epiphany of the Lord are given under the Christmas Season.
- The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is given under the Easter Season.
- The Solemnity of Christ the King is given under Ordinary Sunday 5
- Sundays can also be replaced by Feasts of the Lord
The Most Holy Trinity
Sunday after Pentecost
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Mass Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of the Holy Trinity
- Office
- EPI: proper
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper
| Year A | ||
| Reading 1 | Exod 34:4-6, 8-9 | Lord, Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion. |
| Psalm | Dan 3:52-56 r. 52 | To you glory and praise for evermore. |
| Reading 2 | 2 Cor 13:11-13 | The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Apoc 1:8 | Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the God who is, who was, and who is to come. |
| Gospel | John 3:16-18 | God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved. |
| Year B | ||
| Reading 1 | Deut 4:32-34, 39-40 | The Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. |
| Psalm | Ps 32:4-6, 9, 18-20, 22 r. 12 | Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own. |
| Reading 2 | Rom 8:14-17 | You received the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, 'Abba, Father!' |
| Gospel Acclamation | Apoc 1:8 | Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the God who is, who was, and who is to come. |
| Gospel | Matt 28:16-20 | Baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. |
| Year C | ||
| Reading 1 | Prov 8:22-31 | Before the earth came into being, Wisdom was born. |
| Psalm | Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 | How great is your name, O Lord our God, through all the earth. |
| Reading 2 | Rom 5:1-5 | To God, through Christ, in the love poured out by the Spirit. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Apoc 1:8 | Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the God who is, who was, and who is to come. |
| Gospel | John 16:12-15 | Everything the Father has is mine: all the Spirit tells you will be taken from what is mine. |
The Most Holy Body & Blood of the Lord
Sunday after Trinity Sunday
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord is traditionally celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
- In England and Wales (from 2007) the Body and Blood of the Lord is tranferred to the following Sunday.
- Celebrating the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord (pdf)
- Resources for Year of the Eucharist
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of the Holy Eucharist I or II
- Office
- EPI: proper
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper
| Year A | ||
| Reading 1 | Deut 8:2-3, 14b-16a | He fed you with manna which neither you nor your fathers had known. |
| Psalm | Ps 147:12-15, 19-20 r. 12 | O praise the Lord, Jerusalem! or Alleluia! |
| Reading 2 | 1 Cor 10:16-17 | That there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body. |
| Sequence | optional | Lauda Sion salvatorem. Sing forth, O Zion, sweetly sing. |
| Gospel Acclamation | John 6:51-52 | I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. |
| Gospel | John 6:51-58 | My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. |
| Year B | ||
| Reading 1 | Exod 24:3-8 | This is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you. |
| Psalm | Ps 115:12-13, 15-18 r.13 | The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord's name. or Alleluia! |
| Reading 2 | Heb 9:11-15 | The blood of Christ can purify our inner self from dead actions/ |
| Sequence | optional | Lauda Sion salvatorem. Sing forth, O Zion, sweetly sing. |
| Gospel Acclamation | John 6:51-52 | I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. |
| Gospel | Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 | This is my body. This is my blood |
| Year C | ||
| Reading 1 | Gen 14:18-20 | He brought bread and wine. |
| Psalm | Ps 109:1-4 r.4 | You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old. |
| Reading 2 | 1 Cor 11:23-26 | Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord's death. |
| Sequence | optional | Lauda Sion salvatorem. Sing forth, O Zion, sweetly sing. |
| Gospel Acclamation | John 6:51-52 | I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. |
| Gospel | Luke 9:11-17 | They all ate as much as they wanted. |
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Second Friday after Trinity Sunday
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of Sacred Heart
- Office
- EPI: proper
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper
| Year A | ||
| Reading 1 | Deut 7:6-11 | The Lord set his heart on you and chose you. |
| Psalm | Ps 102:1-4, 6-8, 10 r. 17 | The love of the Lord is everlasting upon those who hold him in fear. |
| Reading 2 | 1 John 4:7-16 | Love comes from God. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Matt 11:29 | Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. |
| Gospel | Matt 11:25-30 | I am gentle and humble of heart. |
| Year B | ||
| Reading 1 | Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8-9 | My heart recoils from it. |
| Psalm | Isa 12:2-6 r.3 | With joy you willl draw water from the wells of the Saviour. |
| Reading 2 | Eph 3:8-12, 14-19 | The love of Christ is beyond all knowledge. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Matt 11:29 | Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. |
| 1 John 4:10 | This is the love I mean: God's love for us when he sent his Son to the sacrifice that takes our sins away. | |
| Gospel | John 19:31-37 | One of the soldiers pierced his side and there came out blood and water. |
| Year C | ||
| Reading 1 | Ezek 34:11-16 | I myself will pasture my sheep, I will show them where to rest. |
| Psalm | Ps 22 r. 1 | The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. |
| Reading 2 | Rom 5:5-11 | What proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Matt 11:29 | Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. |
| John 10: 14 | I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me | |
| Gospel | Luke 15:3-7 | Rejoice with me, I have found the sheep that was lost. |
St David
1 March Solemnity in Wales
- When the celebration falls on a Sunday In Ordinary Time it replaces the Sunday.
- When the celebration falls on a Sunday In Lent it is transferred to the Monday.
- Feast in England
- Readings can be chosen from Common of pastors, or from Common of holy men and women (Lectionary Volume II).
- The following texts, given in Lectionary Volume I, are selected from the Common.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface
- Office
- proper — Common of Pastors
| Reading 1 | Phil 3: 8-14 | I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus |
| Psalm | Ps 1:4, 6, r. Ps 39:5 | Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord |
| Reading 2 | to be chosen from Common | |
| Gospel Acclamation | John 8:31-32 | If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples and you will learn the truth, says the Lord. |
| Gospel | Matt 5:13-16 | You are the light of the world. |
| or | Luke 2:41-51a | See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you. |
St Joseph
19 March
- When the celebration falls on a Sunday In Lent it is transferred to the Monday.
- When the celebration falls on Passion (Palm) Sunday or in Holy Week it is transferred to the first previous available day — generally the Saturday before Passion [Palm] Sunday.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of St Joseph
- Office
- EPI: proper, Common of Pastors
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper, Common of Pastors
| Reading 1 | 2 Sam 7:4-5, 12-14, 16 | The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. |
| Psalm | Ps 88:2-5, 27,29 r. 37 | His dynasty shall last for ever. |
| Reading 2 | Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22 | Though it seemed Abraham's hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Ps 83:5 | They are happy who dwell in your, O Lord, for ever singing your praise. |
| Gospel | Matt 1:16, 18-21, 24 | Joseph did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do. |
| or | Luke 2:41-51a | See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you. |
The Annunciation of the Lord
25 March
- When the celebration falls on a Sunday In Lent it is transferred to the Monday.
- When the celebration falls on Passion (Palm) Sunday, in Holy Week, on Easter Sunday or in Easter Octave it is transferred to the next available day — generally the Monday of the Second Week of Easter.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed — all genuflect at the words and was made man or et incarnatus est.
- proper Preface of the Annunciation
- Office
- EPI: proper
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper
| Reading 1 | Isa 7:10-14; 8:10 | The maiden is with child. |
| Psalm | Ps 39:7-11r. 8,9 | Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will. |
| Reading 2 | Heb 10:4-10 | I was commanded in the scroll of the book, 'God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.' |
| Gospel Acclamation | John 1:14 | The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory. |
| Gospel | Luke 1:26-38 | You are to conceive and bear a son. |
St George
23 April Solemnity in England
- When the celebration falls in the Easter Triduum, on a Sunday of Easter, or in the Easter Octave it is transferred to the next available day — generally the Monday of the Second Week of Easter.
- Readings can be chosen from Common of martyrs (Lectionary Volume II).
- The following texts, given in Lectionary Volume II, are selected from the Common.
- Colour
- Red
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- Preface of Martyrs
- Office
- Office: Common of Martyrs
| Reading 1 | Apoc 12: 10-12 | In the face of death they would not cling to life. |
| Psalm | Ps 125 r. 5 | Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap. |
| Reading 2 | to be chosen from Common | |
| Gospel Acclamation | James 1: 12 | Happy the man who stands firm when trials come. He has proved himself, and will win the crown of life. |
| Gospel | John 15:18-21 | If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you too. |
| or | John 15:1-8 | Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty. |
The Nativity of St John the Baptist
24 June
- Replaces 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time when it falls on a Sunday.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper: Vigil & during the Day
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of St John the Baptist
- Office
- EPI: proper, Common of Pastors
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper, Common of Pastors
| Vigil Mass | ||
| Reading 1 | Jer 1:4-10 | Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. |
| Psalm | Ps 70:1-6, 15, 17 r. 6 | From my mother's womb you have been my help. |
| Reading 2 | 1 Pet 1:8-12 | It was this salvation that the prophets were looking and searching so hard for. |
| Gospel Acclamation | John 1:7; Luke 1:17 | He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him. |
| Gospel | Luke 1:5-17 | She is to bear you a son and you must name him John. |
| Mass during the Day | ||
| Reading 1 | Isa 49:1—6 | I will make you the light of the nations. |
| Psalm | Ps 138:1-3, 13-15 r. 14 | I thank you for the wonder of my being. |
| Reading 2 | Acts 13:22-26 | Jesus, whose coming was heralded by John. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Luke 1: 76 | As for you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of God, the Most High. You shall go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways before him. |
| Gospel | Luke 1:57-66, 80 | His name is John. |
St Peter & St Paul
29 June
- Holyday of Obligation
- In England and Wales when the celebration falls on either a Saturday or a Monday it is transferred to the Sunday.
- Replaces 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time when it falls on a Sunday.
- Colour
- Red
- Mass
- Proper: Vigil & during the Day
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of Saints Peter and Paul
- Office
- EPI: proper, Common of Apostles
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper, Common of Apostles
| Vigil Mass | ||
| Reading 1 | Acts 3:1-10 | I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus stand up and walk! |
| Psalm | Ps 18:2-5 r. 5 | Their word goes forth through all the earth. |
| Reading 2 | Gal 1:11-20 | God specially chose me while I was still in my mother's womb. |
| Gospel Acclamation | John 21:17 | Lord, you know everything; you know I love you. |
| Gospel | John 21:15-19 | Feed my lambs, feed my sheep. |
| Mass during the Day | ||
| Reading 1 | Acts 12:1-11 | Now I know the Lord really did save me from Herod. |
| Psalm | Ps 33:2-9 r. 5 or 8 | From all my terrors the Lord set me free. or The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him. |
| Reading 2 | 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18 | All there is to come is the crown of righteousness reserved for me. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Matt: 16:18 | You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. |
| Gospel | Matt 16:13-19 | You are Peter, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. |
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
15 August
- Holyday of Obligation
- In England and Wales when the celebration falls on either a Saturday or a Monday it is transferred to the Sunday.
- Replaces 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time when it falls on a Sunday.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper: Vigil & during the Day
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of the Assumption
- Office
- EPI: proper, Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper, Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
| Vigil Mass | ||
| Reading 1 | 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2 | They brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent which David had pitched for it. |
| Psalm | Ps 131:6-7, 9-10, 13-14 r.8 | Go up, Lord, to the place of rest, you and the ark of your strength. |
| Reading 2 | 1 Cor 15:54-57 | He gave us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Luke 11:28 | Happy are those who hear the word of God, and keep it. |
| Gospel | Luke 11:27-28 | Happy the womb that bore you! |
| Mass during the Day | ||
| Reading 1 | Rev 11:19; 12:1-6; 10 | A woman adorned with the sun, standing on the moon. |
| Psalm | Ps 44:10-12, 16 r.10 | On your right stands the queen, in garments of gold. |
| Reading 2 | 1 Cor 15:20-26 | Christ as the first fruits and then, those who belong to him. |
| Gospel Acclamation | — | Mary has been taken up into heaven; all the choirs of angels are rejoicing. |
| Gospel | Luke 1:39-56 | The Almighty has done great things for me, he has exalted up the lowly. |
All Saints
1 November
- Holyday of Obligation
- In England and Wales when the celebration falls on either a Saturday or a Monday it is transferred to the Sunday.
- Replaces 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time when it falls on a Sunday.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of All Saints
- Office
- EPI: proper
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper
| Reading 1 | Rev 7:2-4,9-14 | I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language. |
| Psalm | Ps 23:1-6 r.6 | Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord. |
| Reading 2 | 1 John 3:1-3 | We shall see God as he really is. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Matt 11:28 | Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest , says the Lord. |
| Gospel | Matt 5:1-12 | Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. |
Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed
(All Souls)
2 November
- In England and Wales when All Saints (1 November) falls on a Saturday and is transferred to the Sunday the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed is transferred to Monday 3 November.
- Like Ash Wednesday this celebration is, technically, without rank. However, in countries (not England & Wales - see above) where it falls on a Sunday it replaces the Sunday.
- Colour
- White, Purple or Black
- Mass
- Proper — 3 formularies
- Preface of Christian Death I–V
- Lectionary
- Readings are chosen from Masses for the Dead (Lectionary Volume III).
- The following selection is given in Lectionary Volume I
- Office
- Office of the Dead
| Readings | ||
| Reading 1 | Isa 25:6-9 | The Lord will destroy death for ever. |
| Psalm | Ps 26:1, 4, 7-9, 13-14 r. 1 | The Lord is my light and my help. |
| or r. 13 | I believe that I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living. | |
| Reading 2 | Rom 5:5-11 | Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God's anger. |
| Gospel Acclamation | John 6:39 | It is my Father's will, says the Lord, that I lose nothing of all that he has given me, and that I shall raise it up on the last day. |
| Gospel | ||
| Year A | Matt 11:25-30 | You have hidden these things from the learned and have revealed them to mere children. |
| Year B | Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-6 | Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. |
| Year C | Luke 7:11-17 | Young man, I tell you to get up. |
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8 December
- When the celebration falls on Sunday (in Advent) it is transferred to the Monday.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface of the Immaculate Conception
- Office
- EPI: proper, Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper, Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
| Reading 1 | Gen 3:9-15, 20 | I will make you enemies of each other; your offspring and her offspring. |
| Psalm | Ps 97:1-4 r.1 | Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. |
| Reading 2 | Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 | Before the world was made, God chose us in Christ. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Luke 1:28 | Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women. |
| Gospel | Luke 1:26-38 | You are to conceive and bear a son. |
Anniversary of Dedication
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- — Common of the Dedication of a Church: 2 Anniversary of Dedication
- Gloria
- Creed
- Preface of Dedication of a Church I
- Lectionary
- Proper
- —Common of the Dedication of a Church: III Anniversary of dedication of a Church (Lectionary Volume II)
- Office
- Common of the Dedication of a Church
- EPI: proper
- MP: proper, Sunday week I
- EPII: proper
The Anniversary of the Dedication of a church is celebrated:
- Where the date of dedication is known:
- on the actual anniversary date
- or in Ordinary Time and the Christmas Season on the Sunday nearest the Anniversary date — provided that the Sunday is not a Solemnity (In addition to those listed on this page this would include: The Birth of the Lord (25 December), Mary, Mother of God (1 January), The Epiphany of the Lord (6 January)). When either the actual date or the nearest Sunday is impeded it is celebrated as below.
- Where the date of dedication is not known:
- 25 October (a week before All Saints)
- The Sunday before All Saints (1 November)
'In order to focus on the bond between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven.'
- Whichever date a community fixes for its celebration it is important that the day can be celebrated with due festivity and that the choice of date be made once and for all.
Patronal Solemnity
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- Preface — Proper and/or appropriate Common
- Lectionary
- —Proper and/or appropriate Common
- Office
- Proper and/or appropriate Common
Titular Dedication
- The Titular dedication of a church - after whom the church is named - is celebrated as a Solemnity.
- It is celebrated on the date given in the Calendar.
- It may replace Sundays of Ordinary Time and the Christmas Season — provided that the Sunday is not a Solemnity (In addition to those listed on this page this would include: The Birth of the Lord (25 December), Mary, Mother of God (1 January), The Epiphany of the Lord (6 January)).
- Where the celebration is impeded it is transferred to the next available day (i.e. the Monday after the Sunday in many cases).
- Where a church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under a title that does not appear in the Calendar the Patronal Solemnity is celebrated on 15 August (The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) or on another Marian celebration in the Calendar that fits better with the particular celebration.