Catholic Calendar

Follow the liturgical year—Advent to Ordinary Time—with major feasts of the Roman Calendar.

Guide: Catholic Liturgical Calendar Guide

Liturgical Seasons

  • Advent

    Purple (rose on Gaudete)

    Watchful preparation for Christ’s coming in history, mystery, and glory.

  • Christmas Time

    White

    From Nativity through the Baptism of the Lord: the light shines in the darkness.

  • Lent

    Purple

    Forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving toward the Paschal feast.

  • Paschal Triduum

    Red / White / None

    Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil—the heart of the liturgical year.

  • Easter Time

    White

    Fifty days of joy culminating in Pentecost.

  • Ordinary Time

    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.