Category: Liturgical Year

Today is the 5th Sunday of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

In the Extraordinary Form, this is the season of Passiontide.

In the Extraordinary Form, it is Passion Sunday.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 25, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord. It is a solemnity.

In both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Annunciation of Our Lady. It is a Class I day.

If you’d like to learn more about the Annunciation of the Lord, you can click here.

If you’d like to learn more about the Annunciation of Our Lady, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

The Life of Worship: Communion with the Father, Through Christ, in the Holy Spirit

76. In the history or revelation, man’s salvation is constantly presented as a free gift of God, flowing from His mercy, given in sovereign freedom and total gratuity. The entire complex of events and words through which the plan of salvation is revealed and actualized, takes the form of a continuous dialogue between God and man. God takes the initiative, and man is asked for an attitude of listening in faith, and a response in “obedience to faith” (Rm 1,5; 16,26).

The Covenant stipulated on Sinai between God and His chosen people (cf Ex 19-24) is a singularly important event in this salvific dialogue, and makes the latter a “possession” of the Lord, a “kingdom of priests and a holy people” (Ex 19, 6). Israel, although not always faithful to the Covenant, finds in it inspiration and the power to model its life of God Himself (cf Lk 11,44-45; 19,2), and the content of that life on His Word.

Israel’s worship and prayer are directed towards the commemoration of the mirabilia Dei, or God’s saving interventions in history, so as to conserve a lively veneration of the events in which God’s promises were realized, since these are the constant point of reference both for reflection on the faith and for the life of prayer.

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Today is Saturday of the 4th week of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 24, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Gabriel the archangel. It is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Gabriel, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

General Principles for the Renewal of Pious Exercises

75. The Apostolic See has not failed to indicate those theological, pastoral, historical, and literary principles by which a renewal of pious exercises is to be effected. It has also signaled the manner in which they should reflect a biblical and liturgical spirit, as well as an ecumenical one. The criteria established by the Holy See emphasize how the essential nucleus of the various pious exercises is to be identified by means of an historical investigation, and also reflect something of contemporary spirituality. Pious exercises are also required to take due account of the implications of a healthy anthropology. They should respect the culture and expressive style of the peoples who use them without, however, losing those traditional elements that are rooted in popular customs.

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Today is Friday of the 4th week of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 23, in the Ordinary Form, we celebrate St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, bishop. It is an optional memorial.

There is no special fixed liturgical day in the Extraordinary Form.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Turibius, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

Liturgy and Pious Exercises

73. The Church’s teaching on the relationship of Liturgy and pious exercises may be summarized as follows: the Sacred Liturgy, in virtue of its very nature, is by far superior to pious exercises, and hence pastoral praxis must always accord to the Sacred Liturgy “that preeminent position proper to it in relation to pious exercises”; Liturgy and pious exercises must co-exist in accordance with the hierarchy of values and the nature specific to both of these [ritual] expressions.

74. Careful attention to these principles should lead to a real effort to harmonize, in so far as possible, pious exercises with the rhythm and demands of the Liturgy, thereby avoiding any “mixture or admixture of these two forms of piety.” This in turn ensures that no hybrid, or confused forms emerge from mixing Liturgy and pious exercises, not that the latter, contrary to the mind of the Church, are eliminated, often leaving an unfilled void to the great detriment of the faithful.

Today is Thursday of the 4th week of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 22, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

There is no special fixed liturgical day in the Extraordinary Form.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

72. Pious exercises are part of Christian worship. The Church has always been attentive to ensure that God is glorified worthily through them, and that man derives spiritual benefit from them and is encouraged to the live the Christian life.

The actions of Pastors in relation to pious exercises have been many. They have recommended and encouraged them, or guided and corrected them or simply tolerated them. Among the myriad of pious exercises, some must be mentioned, especially those erected by the Apostolic See, or which have been recommended by the same Apostolic See throughout the ages. Mention must also be made of the pious exercises of the particular Churches “that are undertaken by order of the bishops according to customs or books lawfully approved”; of the pious exercises that are practised in accordance with the particular law or tradition of certain religious families, or confraternities, or other pious associations of the faithful, since such have often received the explicit approbation of the Church; and of the pious exercises practised personally or in the home.

Some pious exercises which grew up among the community of the faithful and have received the approbation of the Magisterium, also enjoy the concession of indulgences.

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Today is Wednesday of the 4th week of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 21, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Benedict, abbot and founder of the Benedictines, who died in A.D. 543. It is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Benedict, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

71. In the light of the nature and of the characteristics proper to Christian worship, pious exercises, clearly must conform to the doctrine, legal discipline and norms of the Church. Moreover, they should be in harmony with the Sacred Liturgy, take into account the seasons of the liturgical calendar, in so far as possible, and encourage “conscious active participation in the prayer of the Church.”

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Today is Tuesday of the 4th week of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 20, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

There is no special fixed liturgical day in the Extraordinary Form.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

Pious Exercises

70. Pious exercises are typical expressions of popular piety. In origin and content, in language and style, in usage and subject, they greatly differ among each other. The Second Vatican Council gave consideration to pious exercises, reiterating that they were highly to be recommended, and indicated those criteria which authenticate their legitimacy and validity.

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Today is Monday of the 4th week of Lent. The liturgical color is white.

This is a holyday of obligation (St. Joseph) in some countries (but not the United States, see the Dec. 13, 1991 decree here). If you live in a place where it is a holy day of obligation, be sure to go to Mass if you didn’t go yesterday evening.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 19, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and confessor. In the Ordinary Form, it is a solemnity, and in the Extraordinary Form, it is a Class I day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Joseph, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

Today we conclude our series on St. Joseph. According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

223. That the solemnity of St. Joseph (19 March) falls in Lent, when the Church concentrates her attention on preparation for Baptism and the memorial of the Lord’s Passion, inevitably gives rise to an attempt to harmonize the Liturgy and popular piety. Hence, the traditional practices of a “month of St. Joseph” should be synchronized with the liturgical Year. Indeed, the liturgical renewal movement attempted to instill among the faithful a realization of the importance of the meaning of Lent. Where the necessary adaptations can be made to the various expressions of popular piety, devotion to St. Joseph should naturally be encouraged among the faithful who should be constantly remained of this “singular example […] which, surpassing all states of life, should be recommended to the entire Christian community, whatever their condition or rank.”

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Today is the 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday). The liturgical color is rose or violet.

Note: Tomorrow is a holyday of obligation (St. Joseph). Be sure to go to Mass either this evening or tomorrow.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 18, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop, confessor, and doctor of the Church who died in A.D. 386. In the Ordinary Form, it is an optional memorial, and in the Extraordinary Form, it is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Cyril, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

We continue our series on St. Joseph. According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

222. St. Joseph plays a prominent part in popular devotion: in numerous popular traditions; the custom of reserving Wednesdays for devotion to St. Joseph, popular at least since the end of the seventeenth century, has generated several pious exercises including that of the Seven Wednesdays; in the pious aspirations made by the faithful; in prayers such as that of Pope Leo XIII, A te, Beate Ioseph, which is daily recited by the faithful; in the Litany of St Joseph, approved by St. Pope Pius X; and in the recitation of the chaplet of St Joseph, recollecting the Seven agonies and seven joys of St. Joseph.

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Today is Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 17, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Patrick, apostle of Ireland, bishop and confessor, who died in A.D. 464. In the Ordinary Form, it is an optional memorial, and in the Extraordinary Form, it is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Patrick, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

We continue our series on St. Joseph. According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

221. The person and role of St. Joseph is frequently celebrated in the Liturgy, especially in connection with nativity and infancy of Christ: during Advent; Christmastide, especially the feast of the Holy Family, on the Solemnity of St. Joseph (19 March), and on his memorial (1 May).

St. Joseph is also mentioned in the Communicantes of the Roman Canon and in the Litany of the Saints. The invocation of the Holy Patriarch is suggested in theCommendation of the Dying, as well as the community’s prayer that the souls of the dead, having left this world, may “be taken to the peace of the new and eternal Jerusalem, and be with Mary, the Mother of God, St. Joseph, and all of the Angels and Saints.”

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Today is Friday of the 3rd week of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

 

Saints & Celebrations:

On March 16, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

There is no special fixed liturgical day in the Extraordinary Form.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

 

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

 

Devotional Information:

We continue our series on St. Joseph. According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

220. Popular piety has grasped the significance, importance and universality of the patronage of St. Joseph “to whose care God entrusted the beginning of our redemption”, “and his most valuable treasures.” The following have been entrusted to the patronage of St. Joseph: the entire Church was placed under the patronage and protection of this Holy patriarch by the Blessed Pius IX; those who are consecrated to God by celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven (cf. Mt 19, 12): “in St Joseph they have […] a type and a protector of chaste integrity”; workers and craftsmen, for whom the carpenter of Nazareth is a singular model; the dying, since pious tradition holds that he was assisted by Mary and Jesus in his last agony.

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