Liturgical Calendar for Lent and Easter, 2007

February 2007

General: That the earth's bounty God gave to all men be used wisely and according to principles of justice and solidarity.

Missionary: That the struggle against diseases and the great epidemics in the Third World find in a spirit of solidarity the ever more generous cooperation of governments.

1 Thurs. weekday.

2 Fri. Presentation of the Lord, feast (Mal 3:1-4; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2: 22-40.).

3 Sat. weekday. St. Blasé, bishop-martyr; St. Ansgar, bishop; optional memorial

4 Sun. Fifth Sunday in ordinary time (Is 6: 1-2a, 3-8; 1 Cor 15: 1-11; Lk 5: 1-11)

5 Mon. St. Agatha, virgin and martyr; memorial

6 Tue. St. Paul Miki and companions, martyrs; memorial.

7 Wed. weekday.

8 Thurs. weekday. St. Jerome Emiliani, priest; Josephine Bakhita, virgin; optional memorial.

9 Fri. weekday

10 Sat. St. Scholastica, virgin; memorial.

11 Sun. Sixth Sunday in ordinary time. (Jer 17: 5-8; 1 Cor 15: 12, 16-20; Lk 6: 17, 20-26)

12 Mon. weekday.

13 Tues. weekday.

14 Wed. Sts. Cyril, monk and Methodius, bishop; memorial.

15 Thurs. weekday.

16 Fri. weekday.

17 Sat. weekday. Seven Holy Founders of the Order of Servites; optional memorial.

18 Sun. Seventh Sunday in ordinary time. (1 Sam 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 Cor 15: 45-49; Lk 6: 27-38)

19 Mon. weekday.

20 Tue. weekday.

21 Wed. Ash Wednesday (Jl 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5: 20-6:2; Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18.) Fast and abstinence.

22 Thurs. Chair of St. Peter, apostle; feast.

23 Fri. Lenten weekday. St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr; memorial

24 Sat. Lenten weekday.

25 Sun. First Sunday of Lent (Deut 26: 4-10; Rom 10: 8-13; Lk 4:1-13.)

26 Mon. Lenten weekday.

27 Tue. Lenten weekday

28 Wed. Lenten weekday

Observances: The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, traditional day for the blessings of candles that will be used throughout the year. The Presentation of the Lord is also the World Day for Consecrated Life. Optional memorial of St. Blasé, bishop-martyr, whose intercession is sought against ailments of the throat and other evils. The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Feb. 11) is also World Day of the Sick, a day of prayer, healing and anointing of those who are ill. The Lenten Season begins with Ash Wednesday (Feb. 21) when ashes are blessed and imposed on the forehead of the faithful to remind them of their obligation to do penance for sins, to seek spiritual renewal by means of prayer, fasting, and good works. Catholics are reminded of the serious obligation to fast and abstain on those appointed days during the Lenten season.

March 2007

General: That the Word of God be more and more listened to, contemplated, loved and lived.

Missionary: That the concern of those in young Churches who train catechists, organizers and lay people at the service of the Gospel be constant.

1 Thurs. Lenten weekday.

2 Fri. Lenten weekday. Abstinence.

3 Sat. Lenten weekday. St. Katherine Drexel, virgin; optional memorial.

4 Sun. Second Sunday of Lent (Gn 15:5-12, 17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28b-36.)

5 Mon. Lenten weekday.

6 Tues. Lenten weekday.

7 Weds. Lenten weekday. Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs; optional memorial.

8 Thurs. Lenten weekday. St. John of God, religious; optional memorial.

9 Fri. Lenten weekday. Abstinence. St. Francis of Rome, religious; optional memorial.

10 Sat. Lenten weekday.

11 Sun. Third Sunday of Lent (Ex 3: 1-8a, 13-15; 1 Cor 10: 1-6, 10-12; Lk 13: 1-9)

12 Mon. Lenten weekday.

13 Tues. Lenten weekday.

14 Weds. Lenten weekday.

15 Thurs. Lenten weekday.

16 Fri. Lenten weekday.

17 Sat. Lenten weekday. Abstinence. St. Patrick, bishop; optional memorial.

18 Sun. Fourth Sunday of Lent. (Jos 5: 9a, 10-12; 2 Cor 5: 17-21; Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32.)

19 Mon. St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary; solemnity.

20 Tues. Lenten weekday.

21 Weds. Lenten weekday.

22 Thurs. Lenten weekday.

23 Fri. Lenten weekday. St. Toribio, bishop; optional memorial

24 Sat. Lenten weekday.

25 Sun. Fifth Sunday of Lent. (Is 43: 16-21; Phil 3: 8-14; Jn 8: 1-11.)

26 Mon. Annunciation of the Lord; solemnity.

27 Tues. Lenten weekday.

28 Weds. Lenten weekday.

29 Thurs. Lenten weekday.

30 Fri. Lenten weekday. Abstinence

31 Sat. Lenten weekday.

Observances: The Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, is observed Mar. 19. The Solemnity of the Annunciation is observed Mar. 25.

April 2007

General: That every Christian, letting himself be enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit, respond with enthusiasm and fidelity to the universal call for holiness.

Missionary: That the number of priestly and religious vocations grow in North America and in the countries of the Pacific Ocean so as to adequately respond to the pastoral and missionary needs of their populations.

1 Sun. Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion (Lk 19: 28-40; Is 50: 4-7; Phil 2: 6-11; Lk 22: 14 - 23:56.)

2 Mon. Monday of Holy Week.

3 Tues. Tuesday of Holy Week.

4 Weds. Wednesday of Holy Week.

5 Thurs. Holy Thursday. Chrism Mass in the Morning. The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper.

6 Fri. Good Friday. The Lord's Passion. Fast and abstinence.

7 Sat. Holy Saturday. Easter Vigil.

8 Sun. Easter Sunday: Resurrection of the Lord; solemnity (Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or Mt 28:1-10 or [at an afternoon or evening Mass - Lk 24:13-35].)

9 Mon. Easter Monday; solemnity.

10 Tue. Easter Tuesday; solemnity.

11 Weds. Easter Wednesday; solemnity.

12 Thurs. Easter Thursday; solemnity.

13 Fri. Easter Friday; solemnity

14 Sat. Easter Saturday; solemnity

15 Sun. Second Sunday of Easter. Divine Mercy Sunday. (Acts 5: 12-16; Rv 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; Jn 20:19-31.)

16 Mon. Easter Weekday

17 Tues. Easter Weekday

18 Weds. Easter Weekday

19 Thurs. Easter Weekday

20 Fri. Easter Weekday

21 Sat. Easter Weekday. St. Anselm, bishop and doctor; memorial

22 Sun. Third Sunday of Easter. (Acts 5: 27-32; 40b-41; Rev 5: 11-14; Jn 21: 1-19.)

23 Mon. Easter Weekday. St. George, martyr; St. Adalbert, bishop and martyr; optional memorials.

24 Tues. Easter Weekday. St. Fidelis, priest; optional memorial.

25 Weds. St. Mark, evangelist, feast

26 Thurs. Easter Weekday.

27 Fri. Easter Weekday.

28 Sat. Easter Weekday. St. Peter Chanel, priest-martyr; St. Louis Mary de Montfort; optional memorials.

29 Sun. Fourth Sunday of Easter. (Acts 13: 14, 43-52; Rv 7: 9, 14b-17; Jn 10: 27-30.)

30 Mon. Easter Weekday. St. Pius V, pope; optional memorial.

Observances: Holy Week--Passion Sunday also called Palm Sunday begins these most solemn and holy celebrations of the Church Year. It is on this day that the Church blesses and distributes palms commemorating our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem and it is during this celebration that the Passion is read for the first time during Holy Week. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Holy Week are preparatory days leading to the Sacred Triduum. The Sacred Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday evening. Good Friday commemorates the Passion of our Lord Jesus. Easter Sunday is the day when the Holy Father delivers the traditional Urbe et Orbi address, to Rome and to the World.

May 2007

General: That every Christian, following the example of the Virgin Mary, always heed the signs of the Lord in their lives and let themselves be guided by the Word of God.

Missionary: That the lands of Mission never be found lacking in good and enlightened teachers in the major seminaries and institutes of consecrated life.

1 Tues. St. Joseph, the Worker; memorial

2 Weds. St. Athanasius, bishop-doctor; memorial.

3 Thurs. Sts. Philip and James, apostles; feast.

4 Fri. Easter weekday.

5 Sat. Easter weekday.

6 Sun. Fourth Sunday of Easter (Acts 15: 21-27; Rv 21 1-5a; Jn 13: 31-33a, 34-35.) World Day of Prayer for Vocations

7 Mon. Easter weekday.

8 Tues. Easter weekday.

9 Weds. weekday.

10 Thurs. Easter weekday.

11 Fri. Easter weekday. Bl. Damien Joseph deVeuster of Molokai, priest; optional memorial.

12 Sat. Easter weekday. Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs; St. Pancras, martyr; optional memorials.

13 Sun. Fifth Sunday of Easter. (Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29; Rv 21: 10-14, 22-23; Jn 14: 23-29.)

14 Mon. Easter weekday.

15 Tues. Easter weekday. St. Isidore the Farmer; optional memorial.

16 Weds. Easter weekday.

17 Thurs. Easter weekday. Ascension of our Lord; solemnity. Holy Day of obligation

18 Fri. Easter weekday. John I, pope and martyr; optional memorial.

19 Sat. Easter weekday.

20 Sun. Seventh Sunday of Easter (Acts 7: 55-60; Rv 22: 12 -14, 16-17, 20; Jn 17: 20-26

21 Mon. Easter weekday.

22 Tues. Easter weekday. St. Rita of Cascia, religious; optional memorial.

23 Weds. Easter weekday.

24 Thurs. Easter weekday.

25 Fri. Easter weekday. St. Bede the Venerable, doctor; St. Gregory VII, pope; St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, religious; optional memorials.

26 Sat. Easter weekday. St. Philip Neri, priest; memorial

27 Sun. Pentecost Sunday; solemnity. (Acts 2: 1-11; 1 Cor. 12: 3b-7, 12-13; or Gal 5: 16-25; Jn 20: 19-23 or Jn 15: 26-27; 16: 12 -15.)

28 Mon. weekday.

29 Tues weekday.

30 Weds. weekday.

31 Thurs. Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth; feast.

Observances: The month of May begins with the celebration of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1 reminding society of the dignity of work. Blessed Damien, the Leper priest, is celebrated on May 10. The Solemnity of the Ascension celebrated May 17 (transferred to Sunday in some dioceses) is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Easter Season is completed with the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost (May 27), the celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit given to the apostles and to the Church. Also, the month of May is traditionally dedicated to our Blessed Mother. Customary Marian devotions include the recitation of the Rosary and the Litany of Loretto, Marian processions.

From the 2007 Our Sunday Visitor Catholic Almanac, Matthew Bunson, general editor. 640 pages, $24.95 plus S&H, paperback. Click here for more information or to order»