Here is a little information on Moveable Feast Days and Holy Days of Obligation. Also, I have created a list of the remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feasts.
Feast Days
Can. 1246 §1. Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation. The following days must also be observed: the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,G, the Ascension, the Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, and All Saints.
§2. With the prior approval of the Apostolic See, however, the conference of bishops can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.
Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.
Calendar of the Remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feasts 2009
All Saint’s Day, (Sunday, November 1, 2009) Holy Day of Obligation
First Sunday of Advent (Sunday, November 29, 2009)
Feast of Saint Nicholas (Sunday, December 6, 2009)
Second Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 6, 2009)
Immaculate Conception (Tuesday, December 8, 2009 Holy Day of Obligation
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Saturday, December 12, 2009)
Feast of Saint Lucy (Sunday, December 13, 2009)
Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) (Sunday, December 13, 2009)
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 20, 2009)
Christmas (Friday, December 25, 2009) Holy Day of Obligation
In the Catholic Church, Advent is the both beginning of the liturgical year and a time to spiritually prepare for the arrival of Christ at Christmas. Advent, like Lent is a time of increased prayer, fasting, Confession, and good works. Some Catholics refer to Advent as “Little Lent.” The length of Advent varies from twenty-one to twenty-eight days.
Days of Penance
Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.
Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Household
My object today is to suggest, to some extent, that our experience as Catholics is often influenced by the behaviors of members of the parish that we have observed praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament, volunteering with the various ministries, discussing vocations. The language of our faith encourages various voices to bring alive numerous prayers, and familiar Bible quotations. Each Sunday Mass can nourish our faith, present ideas for our reflection and our good, compassionate household actions may help God’s love to flourish in our lives.
This idea, originally made before my morning orange juice, has been considerably enlarged by reflections about the community of the faithful which is the living body of the church. The simple hope for universal peace and universal love, remains an important theme of the church which has daily impact on the lives of the faithful. Hope is often sent forth with love and fidelity and faith.
Though perhaps imperfect sometimes we always can ask for forgiveness from God. In some respects, the need for penance is natural and good. Our lives periodically need to be examined, some decisions confessed, and our sins absolved. The household of the head, heart, and soul requires maintenance and cleaning from time to time. Our faith grows from the goodness we observe and the goodness we share. Our Faith collects and remembers quotations and smiles, conversations and hugs.
Faith needs to be protected and shared. Faith is a beautiful blessing growing within each one of us. Faith is an original resource helping us, guiding us to God and eternal life.
Outside the remnants of an October rain has been favorably received by the ground, school children endeavor to avoid the puddles, each day I want to become more worthy of having an eternal life with God.
How wonderful our lives would be if we lived each second, each minute with the simple belief that a moment of faith is a guidepost for God forever.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Events
Each day I learn something new about being Catholic.
I see my life as a Christian as an ongoing journey. There is always motions. There are volunteer opportunities, prayer opportunities. I recently added the remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feast Days to my calendar. All Saints Day is November 1 and the First Sunday of Advent is November 29.
I like thinking of Christianity as a series of events and experiences which are helping to shape and direct my life, both my day to day interactions and my spiritual life. Each event provides insights which help to strengthen my faith.
Christianity improves my humanity. I am more aware of people and their suffering. I try to be more compassionate in my dealings with others.
I am attempting to live in friendship with Jesus but sometimes, I must admit that I feel unworthy of such an honor. But, then I will recognize someone from the parish or receive a email or phone call asking how am I doing and then for a brief second I understand the power and majesty of God’s love.
Being Christian is an individual, personal experience. Being Christian exists beyond the realm of formulas, moral and ethical codes, and worship rites. Being Christian exists in our hearts as we strive to live our day to day lives humbly, justly, and with love for everyone just as Jesus Christ taught the Apostles.
Christianity allows us to view our lives through different prisms. Christianity encourages us to do the right thing even if it might be difficult. Each prayer we say is an important event. Each time we help the homeless is an event. We hopefully will keep our hearts and minds open to more opportunities to share God’s goodness.
Our hearts and minds need to share and feel God’s grace and love. Our lives should be our striving to be more humane. We live in a society which encourages all types freedom without explaining consequence and responsibility. Basic humanity like basic civility is often forgotten. Decency is often castaway, too.
We need to give and receive compassion. Our lives provide events which hopefully will guide us on the path to being more Christ like in how we treat ourselves and others.
I see my life as a Christian as an ongoing journey. There is always motions. There are volunteer opportunities, prayer opportunities. I recently added the remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feast Days to my calendar. All Saints Day is November 1 and the First Sunday of Advent is November 29.
I like thinking of Christianity as a series of events and experiences which are helping to shape and direct my life, both my day to day interactions and my spiritual life. Each event provides insights which help to strengthen my faith.
Christianity improves my humanity. I am more aware of people and their suffering. I try to be more compassionate in my dealings with others.
I am attempting to live in friendship with Jesus but sometimes, I must admit that I feel unworthy of such an honor. But, then I will recognize someone from the parish or receive a email or phone call asking how am I doing and then for a brief second I understand the power and majesty of God’s love.
Being Christian is an individual, personal experience. Being Christian exists beyond the realm of formulas, moral and ethical codes, and worship rites. Being Christian exists in our hearts as we strive to live our day to day lives humbly, justly, and with love for everyone just as Jesus Christ taught the Apostles.
Christianity allows us to view our lives through different prisms. Christianity encourages us to do the right thing even if it might be difficult. Each prayer we say is an important event. Each time we help the homeless is an event. We hopefully will keep our hearts and minds open to more opportunities to share God’s goodness.
Our hearts and minds need to share and feel God’s grace and love. Our lives should be our striving to be more humane. We live in a society which encourages all types freedom without explaining consequence and responsibility. Basic humanity like basic civility is often forgotten. Decency is often castaway, too.
We need to give and receive compassion. Our lives provide events which hopefully will guide us on the path to being more Christ like in how we treat ourselves and others.
Raindrops and Neighbors
Sometimes, I feel that I think too much. Every second something new seems to appear in my brain. There are minor and major things. There are many little in-between thoughts. Some of these are just distractions others are reminders of things that I either I should do or that I have told myself that I want to do.
Just writing this can be an exercise in post-modern juvenile angst and ennui as both tone and topics are tossed around in my brain and then tossed again. Sometimes I like to interpret this time of concentration as a quest for perfection. Sometimes, I describe as procrastination by over-stimulation.
There are always ideas waiting to be expressed. There are always prayers waiting to be said. As I am slowly typing this my stomach growls. I think of creating my prayer spreadsheet so that I remember to pray for all the people that I say I am going to pray for.
It is still dark outside. I think that I hear the sound of raindrops against my window. The world needs our love, our compassion. Our charity should be shared with all. We should look for the goodness, the signs of Jesus Christ in ourselves and in those around us.
My stomach growls again. I hear a truck on the street pass the building. I hear footsteps on my ceiling. But, the simple message in my life should be remember to love everyone. Unconditional love is easy to say, easy to describe, easy to request; however, it is often difficult to give. There are often little things in the way to true and complete unconditional love.
We all have our personal fears, jealousies, misunderstandings, ignorance. These can create obstacles to unconditional love. I wonder is it really possible for each of us to love each other as we love ourselves. Some of us live very frenetic lives juggling our career, family, and ecclesial lives. We give our time and attention to each part of our lives. We struggle with loving ourselves sometimes. It is fair to assume that we struggle with loving our neighbors too.
The important thing is to struggle. We must struggle. We must try to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Remember that love is personal. Love does not guarantee an end to conflicts. Love is not a happy ending.
I believe that both compassion and charity are necessary for a good Christian life. There is no hiding from the importance of love. How we choose to express love is a very personal matter. I can not promote any formula or strategy. Just ask yourself, “what would Jesus do?” Let your answer be your guide.
Just writing this can be an exercise in post-modern juvenile angst and ennui as both tone and topics are tossed around in my brain and then tossed again. Sometimes I like to interpret this time of concentration as a quest for perfection. Sometimes, I describe as procrastination by over-stimulation.
There are always ideas waiting to be expressed. There are always prayers waiting to be said. As I am slowly typing this my stomach growls. I think of creating my prayer spreadsheet so that I remember to pray for all the people that I say I am going to pray for.
It is still dark outside. I think that I hear the sound of raindrops against my window. The world needs our love, our compassion. Our charity should be shared with all. We should look for the goodness, the signs of Jesus Christ in ourselves and in those around us.
My stomach growls again. I hear a truck on the street pass the building. I hear footsteps on my ceiling. But, the simple message in my life should be remember to love everyone. Unconditional love is easy to say, easy to describe, easy to request; however, it is often difficult to give. There are often little things in the way to true and complete unconditional love.
We all have our personal fears, jealousies, misunderstandings, ignorance. These can create obstacles to unconditional love. I wonder is it really possible for each of us to love each other as we love ourselves. Some of us live very frenetic lives juggling our career, family, and ecclesial lives. We give our time and attention to each part of our lives. We struggle with loving ourselves sometimes. It is fair to assume that we struggle with loving our neighbors too.
The important thing is to struggle. We must struggle. We must try to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Remember that love is personal. Love does not guarantee an end to conflicts. Love is not a happy ending.
I believe that both compassion and charity are necessary for a good Christian life. There is no hiding from the importance of love. How we choose to express love is a very personal matter. I can not promote any formula or strategy. Just ask yourself, “what would Jesus do?” Let your answer be your guide.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Canonized
On Sunday, October 11, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI canonized five new saints in St. Peter’s Basilica. He also provided brief descriptions of each of the five newly-canonized saints: a bishop, a Trappist brother, two priests and a nun.
Archbishop Zygmunt Szczesny Feliński of Warsaw, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary,
Rafael Arnaiz Baron, a Cistercian oblate,
Dominican Father Francisco Coll y Guitard, founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary
Father Fr. Damien de Veuster, the famous apostle to the lepers, left Flanders, Belgium at the age of 23 to go on a mission to modern day Hawaii
Jeanne Jugan, St. Mary of the Cross, from the Little Sisters of the Poor
Archbishop Zygmunt Szczesny Feliński of Warsaw, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary,
Rafael Arnaiz Baron, a Cistercian oblate,
Dominican Father Francisco Coll y Guitard, founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary
Father Fr. Damien de Veuster, the famous apostle to the lepers, left Flanders, Belgium at the age of 23 to go on a mission to modern day Hawaii
Jeanne Jugan, St. Mary of the Cross, from the Little Sisters of the Poor
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A Simple Request
“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).
This quote reminds me of the invitation that Christ extends to us over and over again. He makes no demands, he beckons us and offers comfort. Jesus wants us to find renewal in him, nourishment in his teachings. He places no conditions on this request. There is no hidden fine print.
As adults we are often suspicious of things which are offered to us. We frequently wonder why we received this invitation or that gift. If something arrives completely unsolicited and unexpected the questions can increase. As adults we spend much of our time applying little bits of information that we have already learned to new situations. In many ways it is a natural response. Curiosity is natural; suspicion is learned.
Adults are good at make decisions and pretending to make decisions. We are good at talking about this and that subject. Our lives are filled with all types of problems which we may or may not be able to solve. Our lives contain different types of difficulties. We share different secrets with our friends, loved ones, families.
We all have burdens; sometimes we publicly pretend not to have any problems or cares. Men are famous for doing that. We have to project strength, be stoic, non-emotional. Jesus sees all this and more. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows when we need encouragement.
Patiently, Jesus invites each of us to stop what we are doing, to relax. Jesus sees us straining with our personal problems and concerns. He offers to help if we simply allow him.
Sometimes we allow ourselves to become too busy with the day to day routines of our lives to take time to pray, to praise God, and to thank God for all the good things he has given to us.
When we hear his invitation, do we respond? Do we just continue doing whatever we were doing and going where ever we were going? Do we even allow ourselves a moment to stop?
Personally, it is sometimes difficult to stop. But, I am trying to learn how to approach God a little more innocently, a little more childlike. I do not have to provide all the answers. I do not have to play devil’s advocate. I simply have to believe and make time for Christ in my life. I need to approach Christ with the curiosity of a child.
Being Catholic means always learning something new about the wonders of God and then sharing what you have learned. We must always remain teachable to receive and share God’s love. Our hearts and minds have to always be alive in the grace of God, building our faith, inspiring our hope in the goodness and love of God.
This quote reminds me of the invitation that Christ extends to us over and over again. He makes no demands, he beckons us and offers comfort. Jesus wants us to find renewal in him, nourishment in his teachings. He places no conditions on this request. There is no hidden fine print.
As adults we are often suspicious of things which are offered to us. We frequently wonder why we received this invitation or that gift. If something arrives completely unsolicited and unexpected the questions can increase. As adults we spend much of our time applying little bits of information that we have already learned to new situations. In many ways it is a natural response. Curiosity is natural; suspicion is learned.
Adults are good at make decisions and pretending to make decisions. We are good at talking about this and that subject. Our lives are filled with all types of problems which we may or may not be able to solve. Our lives contain different types of difficulties. We share different secrets with our friends, loved ones, families.
We all have burdens; sometimes we publicly pretend not to have any problems or cares. Men are famous for doing that. We have to project strength, be stoic, non-emotional. Jesus sees all this and more. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows when we need encouragement.
Patiently, Jesus invites each of us to stop what we are doing, to relax. Jesus sees us straining with our personal problems and concerns. He offers to help if we simply allow him.
Sometimes we allow ourselves to become too busy with the day to day routines of our lives to take time to pray, to praise God, and to thank God for all the good things he has given to us.
When we hear his invitation, do we respond? Do we just continue doing whatever we were doing and going where ever we were going? Do we even allow ourselves a moment to stop?
Personally, it is sometimes difficult to stop. But, I am trying to learn how to approach God a little more innocently, a little more childlike. I do not have to provide all the answers. I do not have to play devil’s advocate. I simply have to believe and make time for Christ in my life. I need to approach Christ with the curiosity of a child.
Being Catholic means always learning something new about the wonders of God and then sharing what you have learned. We must always remain teachable to receive and share God’s love. Our hearts and minds have to always be alive in the grace of God, building our faith, inspiring our hope in the goodness and love of God.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Being
As a Catholic I am often amazed how many books there are about this religion. I am amazed at how many books about Catholicism that I own. I am also amazed at how many of those books that I own which I have not read in their entirety. I tend to read the cover, the dust jacket, the table of contents, maybe the introduction and the first chapter.
I am a person who likes asking questions. Sometimes I think that my astrological sign should have been a question mark. When meeting new people I have to be careful to integrate the questions sparingly into a conversation or else a friendly talk turns into an intense police interrogation.
Questions are a good thing. Having questions about your faith is natural. The questions if explored naturally, calmly should help you deepen or strengthen your faith. Our faith and our beliefs should be explored frequently. Our lives are not static. We confront change everyday. Our faith is not static. It is there encouraging us to explore, ask questions, learn more. Our faith is leading us to God.
Faith has its own lesson book. This lesson book is personalized for each of us and it is tailored to our individual idiosyncrasies. Our personalities influence how we pray, how we love our neighbors, how we love God. I sometimes wonder about all the things that must be in my lesson book. I sometimes wonder if I am learning and putting the right things into practice, if I am praying enough, and if I am helping my neighbors enough.
As the October days become shorter and the outside temperatures become cooler, I have discovered many unasked questions. I have also discovered the joy of reading an unread book.
This week I am enamored with catechesis and catechism.
I am a person who likes asking questions. Sometimes I think that my astrological sign should have been a question mark. When meeting new people I have to be careful to integrate the questions sparingly into a conversation or else a friendly talk turns into an intense police interrogation.
Questions are a good thing. Having questions about your faith is natural. The questions if explored naturally, calmly should help you deepen or strengthen your faith. Our faith and our beliefs should be explored frequently. Our lives are not static. We confront change everyday. Our faith is not static. It is there encouraging us to explore, ask questions, learn more. Our faith is leading us to God.
Faith has its own lesson book. This lesson book is personalized for each of us and it is tailored to our individual idiosyncrasies. Our personalities influence how we pray, how we love our neighbors, how we love God. I sometimes wonder about all the things that must be in my lesson book. I sometimes wonder if I am learning and putting the right things into practice, if I am praying enough, and if I am helping my neighbors enough.
As the October days become shorter and the outside temperatures become cooler, I have discovered many unasked questions. I have also discovered the joy of reading an unread book.
This week I am enamored with catechesis and catechism.
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