From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple:
The Church has made many changes to the universal liturgical calendar over the centuries. To a great extent, the Church’s calendar of saints’ feasts is the result of the devotional life of the people of God. In the first centuries, the anniversaries of the martyrs’ deaths were commemorated by the local Church. It was the prerogative of the local bishop or bishops of the region to establish the authentic lists (canons) of those recognized as martyrs. The modern process of canonizations, as determined ultimately by the bishop of Rome (the pope) did not develop until the end of the first millennium.
The heart of the liturgical calendar, of course, is the Incarnation of Christ and his Pascal Mystery (i.e., His death, resurrection, and ascension). The feasts of the saints are subordinate to these saving
mysteries. Among the saints, the Holy Mother of God is the queen, and her principal feasts “outrank” those of all other saints. Those major Marian feasts include the Solemnities of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and the Assumption (August 15).
The changes to the universal calendar made by the Holy See in 1969 were, in the eyes of many, more radical than previous adjustments. One reason to make changes was to highlight the weekly observance and centrality of the Lord’s Day. That is why the feast days of saints are usually not observed on Sundays…unless the feast is classified as a “Solemnity” or “Feast,” properly speaking. After these two categories, the days are classified as either “Memorials” or “Optional Memorials.” As an example of the consequences of these new categories, the Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19) takes precedence even over a Lenten weekday (but not over a Lenten Sunday, or a day in Holy Week or Easter Week), but the Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker (May 1) can be celebrated with Mass, or not, at the discretion of the priest offering the Mass that day.
Local Churches are also to observe local liturgical calendars (as approved by the Holy See). For example, the Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (January 4) is found on the calendar of every U.S. diocese (but not on the national calendar of the Church in Uganda). The patronal feasts of a parishes and dioceses ought to be observed as a Solemnity in those places, even if a saint is not listed on the universal calendar for that day. For example, if a parish were dedicated under the title of St. Veronica (July 12), then in that place (only), the patronal feast should be liturgically observed as a Solemnity. The anniversary of the dedication of a parish church, so rarely remembered in many places, is also to be kept as a Solemnity each year.
If you are interested in these matters and/or curious about more recent changes to the local liturgical calendars in the United State, as approved by the Holy See, visit:
