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LITURGY: Liturgy Planning
Committee
Last revised:
February 6, 2011 3:58 PM
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"As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude
and bare
So may we with holy joy
Pure and free from sins alloy
All
our costliest treasures bring
Christ to Thee our heavenly King"
~excerpt from As with Gladness Men of Old |
On This Page:
Liturgy
Planning Committee | Seasons of the Liturgical Year
| Holy Days of Obligation
Liturgy Planning Committee
The Liturgy Planning Commission promotes and strengthens the ongoing liturgical
renewal in the church. The Commission's responsiblities include planning of the
liturgies for our parish and oversight of the liturgical ministries. During an
annual retreat, members break open the readings for the year, pray together and
vision for the next liturgical year. Meetings are then held as needed. Contact:
Kathy McGrath 977-0034 more...
| Seasons
of the Liturgical Year
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The seasons of the liturgical year begin with Advent, a
time of preparation for the Christmas season. more... |
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The Christmas season celebrates the birth of Jesus (on
December 25) and continues until the Baptism of Our Lord. more... |
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This is followed by the first of two periods of Ordinary Time,
which continues until Ash Wednesday. |  |
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent,
a time of penitence leading to the Paschal Triduum after the Lord's Supper on
Holy Thursday. more... |
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The Triduum is the three days before Easter. more...
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Easter Sunday marks the start of the Easter season,
which continues as a time of celebration until Pentecost Sunday. more... |
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Pentecost Sunday marks the start of the second period of
Ordinary Time, which continues until the Advent season begins again. This is Confirmation
time see more...
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| Holy Days
of Obligation Merry Christmas! Yes, for us this
remains an appropriate greeting as we continue to celebrate the Incarnation. Since
I wished everyone a “Happy New Year” when the New Year really began
(Advent), I’ll refrain from being redundant.
Monday, January first,
is a holy day.Usually it is also a day of obligation, however, this year the obligation
to participate in Mass is abrogated (removed). I know this puzzles some parishioners.
I hear people ask, “How can it be a holy day one year but not another?”
The first point to clarify is that these days are ALWAYS holy days. That
does not change. What we are really talking about is the obligation to participate
in Mass. The directive is simple. When a holyday of obligation falls on a Monday
or a Saturday the obligation is lifted. The two exceptions to this policy are
Christmas and the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
The “Monday and
Saturday” policy was instituted by our bishops. It was not to take away from
the holy days but was a tacit acknowledgment of the shortage of priests. It was
also recognition for liturgical ministers (musicians, ushers, sacristans, etc.)
and the challenge that back to back feasts can pose to them. So that holy days
did not become a burden but remained a joy for us to celebrate, the “Monday
and Saturday exemption” was adopted. If you can remember “Monday and
Saturday” it is fairly easy to know when you are obligated to be at Mass
for a holy day and when you are not.
The custom of keeping holy days
came from the people of God. There was a heartfelt need to celebrate certain events
in the life of Christ and favorite saints. On certain days people came to church
in great numbers to keep these feasts. Of course, which days and saints were so
honored differed from one part of the world to another. During the Middle Ages
it appears that all of the apostles were so honored. Today
the Church recognizes ten holy days of obligation (Code of Canon Law, 1246). “Sunday
is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic
tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the
universal Church. The second part of canon 1246 gives Bishops Conferences the
authority, with approval of the Holy See, to abolish certain holy days or transfer
them to Sunday. That is why in the United States we do not observe the holy days
of St. Joseph (March 19) or Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) as days of obligation.
The Epiphany, Ascension and Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ are transferred
to Sundays.
Fr. Randy Phillips
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The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
On December 8, The Immaculate Conception, is a Holy Day of Obligation. There is
often confusion surrounding the Immaculate of Conception. By the name of the feast
day, one would think we would celebrate the day Jesus was conceived. However,
it is the day that the Blessed Mother Mary was conceived. |
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The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord
Jesus Christ
Christmas is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church.
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. This holiday is celebrated on
December 25.
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The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
The Solemnity of Mary is the feast day on which Catholics celebrate the Mother
of God, our Lady's greatest title. Catholics celebrate this solemnity on January
1. Because today is a Holy Day of Obligation, Catholics must attend Mass. |
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The Solemnity of the Epiphany
The
Epiphany was understood as the manifestation of Jesus to the nations (represented
by the Magi.) The date was also associated with Jesus’ baptism, thus January
6th became the second day of the year that the early Church celebrated baptisms.
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The Ascension
The Ascension of the
Lord is a Holy Day of Obligation. Catholics celebrate the time when Jesus Christ
ascends into Heaven. The Solemnity of the Ascension is celebrated either on the
Thursday after the Sixth Sunday of Easter or the following Sunday. |
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Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Also known as Corpus Christi, this holy day is celebrated on the Second Sunday
after Pentecost or Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Solemnity of Corpus Christi
commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist |
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Solemnity of the Assumption
In the Roman Catholicism
religion, August 15 is the Holy Day of Obligation known as the Feast of the Assumption.
The Blessed Mary assumes her place in Heaven with Jesus Christ. |
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Solemnity of All Saints
November
1st is THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS AND A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. (A day of obligation
means Catholics are obligated to participate in the Mass.) On November 2nd we
remember our beloved dead as we keep the feast of All Souls. All Souls Day is
a popular day to visit the cemeteries where our loved ones are interred. When
that is not possible we might honor them by lighting a candle, placing a photo
in a prominent place, or simply sharing memories with family or friends. Perhaps
one of the most elaborate celebrations of All Saints and All Souls comes from
Mexico. The celebration of “the Day of the Dead” predates Christianity.
As with customs surrounding the winter solstice (Christmas) and the vernal equinox
(Easter) the Church incorporated some of these customs into popular piety. In
many Hispanic homes an altar will be created. On the altar will be photos of the
dead, a crucifix, or statue of Mary, candles, incense and
flowers, traditionally
marigolds. Throughout Mexico there are candlelight processions to the cemetery
on All Hallows’ Eve and some families even spend the night praying the rosary,
decorating graves and/or enjoying fireworks. While there are many ways to keep
these days, remembering those who have gone before us marked with the sign of
faith is meant to be a respite from the daily grind. The Solemnity of All Saints
and the Feast of All Souls is a time of acknowledging our unity with those who
have died.
Through ritual, story, song and symbol we express our faith
that death does not break the bonds between us and those we
love. This is
a time of building family unity by sharing the stories of the ancestors. These
stories, in turn, sustain us as we continue our earthly pilgrimage. ~ Fr. Randy
Phillips, 2007 | | 
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