The Ecclesiastical Year, with regard to the Sundays and Moveable Feasts, begins with Advent. The words Double, Semi-double, and Simple, show the degrees of solemnity with which the Offices of the Church are celebrated. The principal Festivals are Doubles of the first class. Some Festivals have an Octave, or succession of eight days, on which, with certain exceptions, the Office and Mass of the Feast are said. A Feria is a week-day for which no Saint's Office is appointed. When the Office is double, an entire Antiphon is said or sung before and after each Psalm; when semi-double or simple, only a word or two are said or sung before the Psalm. B 2 A TABLE Of all the Feasts observed in England with an obligation of hearing Mass and resting from servile work. All Sundays in the year. JANUARY 1 The Circumcision of our Lord, JUNE or New Year's Dav. 6 The Epiphany, or Twelfth Day. 29 St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles. AUGUST 15 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. NOVEMBER 1 All Saints. DECEMBER 25 Christmas Day. DAYS OF DEVOTION. (Formerly Festivals of Obligation.) FEBRUARY 2 The Purification, or Candlemas Day. 24 St. Matthias, Apostle. MARCH APRIL JUNE JULY 19 St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin. 25 The Annunciation of the B. V., 23 St. George the Martyr. St. James, 3 The Finding of the Cross. 24 The Nativity of St. John Baptist. 25 St. James, Apostle. 26 St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed AUGUST 10 St. Laurence, Martyr. SEPTEMBER 8 The Nativity of the Blessed 21 St. Matthew, Apostle. 29 Michaelmas Day. OCTOBER 28 St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles. NOVEMBER 30 St. Andrew, Apostle. DECEMBER 8 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin. 21 St. Thomas, Apostle. 29 St. Thomas of Canterbury. Easter Monday and Tuesday. FASTING DAYS. All the week-days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday. The Wednesdays and Fridays in Advent. Ember-days, four times a year-viz., the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 1. Next after the first Sunday in Lent; 3. Next after the 14th of September; 4. Next after the third Sunday of Advent. The Vigil of SS. Peter and Paul, June 28. The Vigil of the Assumption, August 14. The Vigil of All Saints, October 31. The Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord, December 24. The Vigil of Pentecost. DAYS OF ABSTINENCE. All Fridays, except Christmas-day when it falls on a Friday. The Sundays in Lent unless a dispensation be granted. The solemnities of Marriage are forbidden from the first Sunday in Advent until after Twelfth-day, and from Ash-Wednesday until LowSunday. |