Catholic Calendar
Follow the liturgical year—Advent to Ordinary Time—with major feasts of the Roman Calendar.
Guide: Catholic Liturgical Calendar Guide
Liturgical Seasons
Purple (rose on Gaudete)
Watchful preparation for Christ’s coming in history, mystery, and glory.
White
From Nativity through the Baptism of the Lord: the light shines in the darkness.
Purple
Forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving toward the Paschal feast.
Red / White / None
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil—the heart of the liturgical year.
White
Fifty days of joy culminating in Pentecost.
Green
Ordered growth in discipleship; hearing the Gospel week by week.
Major Feasts & Memorials
- January 1
Mary, Mother of God (Solemnity)
Octave of Christmas; World Day of Peace.
- January 6
Epiphany of the Lord (Solemnity)
In many places transferred to Sunday; Christ revealed to the nations.
- January 18–25
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Season)
Ecumenical prayer concluding with the Conversion of St. Paul.
- February 2
Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas) (Feast)
Christ, light of the nations; blessing of candles.
- February 11
Our Lady of Lourdes (Optional Memorial)
World Day of the Sick.
- March 19
St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)
Patron of the Universal Church.
- March 25
Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity)
The Word becomes flesh in Mary’s womb.
- Ash Wednesday
Beginning of Lent (Season)
Fast and abstinence; movable date before Easter.
- Holy Week
Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday (Season)
Passion of the Lord; Triduum begins Thursday evening.
- Easter Sunday
Resurrection of the Lord (Solemnity)
Highest feast of the year; movable (after first full moon of spring).
- Divine Mercy Sunday
Second Sunday of Easter (Solemnity)
Feast of Divine Mercy established by St. John Paul II.
- Ascension of the Lord
40 days after Easter (Solemnity)
In many US dioceses transferred to Sunday.
- Pentecost
Descent of the Holy Spirit (Solemnity)
Birthday of the Church’s public mission; 50 days after Easter.
- Trinity Sunday
Most Holy Trinity (Solemnity)
Sunday after Pentecost.
- Corpus Christi
Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Solemnity)
Thursday (or Sunday) after Trinity Sunday.
- Sacred Heart
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity)
Friday after the second Sunday after Pentecost.
- June 24
Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Solemnity)
Forerunner of the Lord.
- June 29
Sts. Peter and Paul (Solemnity)
Pillars of the Church of Rome.
- August 6
Transfiguration of the Lord (Feast)
Christ’s glory revealed on the mountain.
- August 15
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)
Holy day of obligation in the United States.
- September 8
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)
Birthday of Mary.
- September 14
Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Feast)
Victory of the Cross.
- September 15
Our Lady of Sorrows (Memorial)
Mary at the foot of the Cross.
- October 1
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (Memorial)
Doctor of the Church; little way of love.
- October 4
St. Francis of Assisi (Memorial)
Poverty, joy, and care for creation.
- October 7
Our Lady of the Rosary (Memorial)
Commemorates the victory of Lepanto through the Rosary.
- November 1
All Saints (Solemnity)
Holy day of obligation in the United States.
- November 2
All Souls (Season)
Commemoration of all the faithful departed.
- November 9
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (Feast)
Mother and head of all churches.
- Christ the King
Last Sunday of Ordinary Time (Solemnity)
Christ reigns over all creation and history.
- December 8
Immaculate Conception (Solemnity)
Patronal feast of the United States; holy day of obligation.
- December 12
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast)
Patroness of the Americas.
- December 25
Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) (Solemnity)
The Word made flesh; holy day of obligation.
- December 28
Holy Innocents (Feast)
Child martyrs of Bethlehem.
About the Catholic liturgical year
The Catholic liturgical calendar proclaims the mystery of Christ across the year: Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time. Solemnities such as Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, the Assumption, and All Saints shape Catholic prayer, Mass readings, and parish life in the Roman Rite.