Below is a listing of the major Solemnities and Feasts within the 2008 liturgical calendar for the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Included in this list are pastoral notes which give information regarding holy days of obligation, the celebration of the Order of Christian Funerals on those days, and other pertinent information. The official liturgical calendar for the diocese is the Paulist Press Ordo: The Order of Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours and Celebration of the Eucharist 2008; the Sunday Lectionary cycle for 2008 is Year A (Matthew), while the Weekday cycle is Year II (for even-numbered years). For more questions regarding the liturgical year, call the diocesan Office of Worship at 225-242-0120.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
 | The year of grace 2008 begins with the celebration of Evening Prayer I for the First Sunday of Advent. |
Sunday, December 2, 2007 - First Sunday of Advent
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day. The Vigil Service for a funeral on Monday may take place on Sunday evening. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not permitted on this day. |
Saturday, December 8, 2007 - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
| This Solemnity is a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day, since it is a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not permitted on this day. |
| A Mass celebrated in the evening of December 8 is an anticipated Mass, and uses the texts from the Second Sunday of Advent. |
Sunday, December 9, 2007 - Second Sunday of Advent
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
| This Feast is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
Sunday, December 16, 2007 - Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 23, 2007 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
Monday, Christmas Eve, December 24, 2007 - Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord: Vigil
| A Mass celebrated in the evening of December 24 uses the texts from the Vigil Mass of Christmas, which is a true Vigil and not just an anticipated Mass. |
Tuesday, Christmas, December 25, 2007 - Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
| This Solemnity is a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day. The Vigil Service for a funeral on December 26 may take place on the evening. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not permitted on this day. |
Sunday, December 30, 2007 - Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day. The Vigil Service for a funeral on December 26 may take place in the evening. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not permitted on this day. |
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 - Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
| This Solemnity is a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day. The Vigil Service for a funeral on January 2 may take place in the evening. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not permitted on this day. |
Sunday, January 6, 2008 - Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day. The Vigil Service for a funeral on Monday may take place on Sunday evening. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not permitted on this day. |
Tuesday, January 8 - Solemnity of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Patroness of the State of Louisiana and Province of New Orleans
| This Solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Mass texts and readings are taken from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary or from the special Collection of Masses in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. |
| Funeral Masses are permitted on this day, since it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Ritual Masses are not permitted on Solemnities, meaning that a wedding which takes place must use the Marian Mass texts and readings. |
Sunday, January 13 - Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day. The Vigil Service for a funeral on Monday may take place on Sunday evening. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not
permitted on this day.
|
| Ordinary Time begins on Monday, January 14, 2008, and continues through Tuesday, February 5, 2008. |
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 - National "Day of Penance for Violations to the Dignity of the Human Person"
| Mass texts and readings are taken from the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, "For Peace and Justice"; violet vestments are worn. |
| The Feast of St. Vincent, deacon and martyr, is perpetually impeded in the USA. |
Wednesday, February 6, 2008 - Ash Wednesday
| Lent runs from Ash Wednesday until the beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, March 20. |
| Ashes may be distributed to the faithful both within and outside of Mass, at the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word. |
| Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Ash Wednesday is a penitential day of obligatory fast regarding all food and abstinence from meat. |
| Funerals are permitted on Ash Wednesday and all Lenten weekdays, but Ritual Masses are not permitted, meaning that a funeral or a wedding which takes place must use the Mass texts and readings for Ash Wednesday. |
| Ash Wednesday, Lenten Sundays, and the days of Holy Week take precedence over all Solemnities and Feasts. Only Solemnities and Feasts (this year, the Chair of Peter on February 22 and St. Joseph on March 15) take precedence over other Lenten weekdays; other memorials of saints do not, so that all memorials of saints occurring during Lent are observed as optional. |
| The word "Alleluia" is not sung or said from the beginning of Lent until the Easter Vigil, even on solemnities and feasts (this year, the Chair of Peter on February 22 and St. Joseph on March 15). The Gospel reading is preceded by an acclamation which does not use the word "Alleluia." |
| During Lent the Church should not be decorated with flowers and musical instruments should be played only to give necessary support to singing. |
| Marriages can take place during Lent. Yet if marriages do take place during Lent, couples are reminded that wedding plans should respect the special nature of this liturgical season. Wedding ceremonies are more simple and subdued when celebrated during Lent. |
| Fridays of Lent are penitential days of obligatory abstinence from meat. |
Saturday, March 15, 2008 - Solemnity of Joseph, Husband of Mary, Patron of the Diocese of Baton Rouge
| This Solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Funeral Masses are permitted on this day, since it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Other Ritual Masses are not permitted on Solemnities, meaning that a wedding which takes place must use the proper Mass texts and readings taken from the Solemnity. |
| A Mass in the evening on March 15 is an anticipated Mass, and uses the texts of Palm Sunday. |
Sunday, March 16, 2008 – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
| Holy Week begins on Passion Sunday, March 16, 2008, and extends through Holy Saturday, March 22, 2008. |
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
| The Solemnity of St. Joseph is not celebrated on this date this year, and liturgical texts used are from the Wednesday of Holy Week, except for: |
| The Chrism Mass with its own special texts will be celebrated at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge on March 19, 2008, at 10:30 am. |
March 20, 2008 - Holy Thursday
March 21, 2008 - Good Friday
March 22, 2008 - Holy Saturday
March 23, 2008 - Easter Sunday
| Lent ends and the Paschal Triduum commences on Holy Thursday, March 20, 2008, with the beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The Triduum continues through all of Good Friday, March 21, 2008, and Holy Saturday, March 22, 2008, through Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008. |
| Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are not Holy Days of Obligation. |
| Funeral Masses are not permitted during these days. A Funeral may be celebrated, in church or in another place, only within the Liturgy of the Word, on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. |
| Holy Communion is only distributed during Mass on Holy Thursday or Holy Saturday, and during the solemn commemoration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, except when it is given outside of Mass to the dying as Viaticum. |
| The sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick may be administered during the Paschal Triduum, but not within Mass; the sacrament of Matrimony is not celebrated except in danger of death and then only without Mass. |
| Good Friday is a penitential day of obligatory fast from food and abstinence from meat. It is recommended that the paschal fast continue all day on Holy Saturday as well. |
| The celebration of the great Vigil Service of Easter on Holy Saturday, March 22, 2008, must begin after darkness has fallen; it is not celebrated at the usual time of anticipated Sunday Mass on Saturday. |
| The Octave of Easter begins with the Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 22, 2008, and extends through the Second Sunday of Easter, March 30, 2008. |
| During the Easter Octave, every day is a Solemnity, so that Ritual Masses are not permitted, meaning that weddings which take place during the Octave of Easter, including those on Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29, 2008, must use the proper Mass texts and readings taken from the weekday during the Octave of Easter. |
| Funeral Masses are permitted during the Octave of Easter. |
| During the entire Easter Season, the Paschal Candle is always lit for all liturgical and devotional services in the church. |
Monday, March 31, 2008 - Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
| This Solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Funeral Masses are permitted on this day, since it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Ritual Masses are not permitted on Solemnities, meaning that a wedding which takes place must use the proper Mass texts and readings taken from the Solemnity. |
Sunday, May 4, 2008 - Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
| In the Province of New Orleans, observance of this Solemnity has been permanently moved to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. |
Sunday, May 11, 2008 - Solemnity of Pentecost
| The Easter Season ends with Evening Prayer II of Pentecost. |
| Ordinary Time resumes on Monday, May 12, 2008. |
Sunday, May 18, 2008 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Sunday, May 25, 2008 - Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Friday, May 30, 2008 – Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
| This Solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Funeral Masses are permitted on this day, since it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Ritual Masses are not permitted on Solemnities, meaning that a wedding which takes place must use the proper Mass texts and readings taken from the Solemnity. |
Sunday, June 1, 2008 - Day of Prayer and Fasting for Safety
| In the Province of New Orleans, the bishops have asked that this day be set aside each year at the beginning of the usual "Hurricane Season" to pray and fast, with the intention of begging God for His protection from the destruction which such storms can bring. |
| This observance does not impede the celebration of the Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the texts of which are used at Mass. |
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist
| This Solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Funeral Masses are permitted on this day, since it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Ritual Masses are not permitted on Solemnities, meaning that a wedding which takes place must use the proper Mass texts and readings taken from the Solemnity. |
Sunday, June 29, 2008 - Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day. The Vigil Service for a funeral on Monday may take place on Sunday evening. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not permitted on this day. |
Friday, July 4, 2008 - USA Independence Day
| While not a religious observance per se, Mass texts and readings may be taken from the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and the Appendix to the Roman Missal "For Independence Day and Other Civic Observances." |
Friday, August 15, 2008 - Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
| This Solemnity is a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day, since it is a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Ritual Masses are not permitted on Solemnities, meaning that a wedding which takes place must use the proper Mass texts and readings taken from the Solemnity. |
Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Joseph Cathedral
| The Anniversary of the Dedication of St. Joseph’s Cathedral is observed with the rank of Solemnity in the Cathedral Church; the Anniversary is observed with the rank of Feast in all other churches and chapels in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. |
| Mass texts and readings are taken from the Common of the Dedication of a Church; white vestments are used. |
Saturday, November 1, 2008 - Solemnity of All Saints
| This Solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Funeral Masses are permitted on this day, since it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. |
| Ritual Masses are not permitted on Solemnities, meaning that a wedding which takes place must use the proper Mass texts and readings taken from the Solemnity. |
Sunday, November 2, 2008 - Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)
| Mass texts and readings are taken from the Common of the Dead; white, violet or black vestments are used. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, Funeral Masses are not permitted on this day. The Vigil Service for a funeral on Monday may take place on Sunday evening. |
| As on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, weddings are not permitted on this day. |
Monday, November 3, 2008 - Feast of St. Martin de Porres, Secondary Patron of the Province of New Orleans
Sunday, November 9, 2008 - Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Sunday, November 23, 2008 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
| This is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time. |
Thursday, November 27, 2008 - Thanksgiving Day
| While not a religious observance per se, Mass texts and readings may be taken from the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and the Appendix to the Roman Missal "For Independence Day and Other Civic Observances". |
Saturday, November 29, 2008
| The 2008 liturgical year ends with the celebration of Evening Prayer I on the Vigil of the First Sunday of Advent, which begins the 2009 liturgical year. |