The reference library
The Liturgical Year
The Church keeps time by the mystery of Christ. The year begins on the First Sunday of Advent and unfolds through Christmas, Lent, the Paschal Triduum and Easter into Ordinary Time, and on almost every day it also remembers one of the saints. This is the calendar of the United States for the present year, with every season, solemnity, feast and memorial in its place.
- This year
- November 30, 2025 to November 28, 2026
- Cycles
- Sunday readings, Year A · weekday readings, Year II
- Calendar
- The calendar of the United States, built on the General Roman Calendar
- Holy days
- 6 holy days of obligation
Wednesday, September 30
Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Liturgical year 2026
The year, season by season
November 30 to December 24, 2025 · 25 days
Advent
Four weeks of waiting: for the Lord's coming at Christmas, and for his coming at the end of time.
WedDec 3Saint Francis Xavier, PriestMemorialMonDec 8The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal feastday of the United States of AmericaSolemnityHoly day of obligationFriDec 12Our Lady of GuadalupeFeastProper to the United StatesSatDec 13Saint Lucy of Syracuse, Virgin and MartyrMemorialSunDec 14Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete)
and 5 optional memorialsFewer
December 25 to January 11, 2026 · 18 days
Christmas
From the Nativity to the Baptism of the Lord: the birth of Christ and his first showing to the world.
ThuDec 25ChristmasHoly day of obligationFriDec 26Saint Stephen, The First MartyrFeastSatDec 27Saint John, Apostle and EvangelistFeastSunDec 28Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and JosephFeast of the LordThuJan 1Mary, Mother of GodSolemnityHoly day of obligationFriJan 2Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the ChurchMemorialSunJan 4EpiphanyMonJan 5Saint John Neumann, BishopMemorialProper to the United StatesSunJan 11Baptism of the LordFeast of the Lord
January 12 to February 17, 2026 · 37 days
Ordinary Time after the Baptism of the Lord
The weeks outside the great seasons, in which the mystery of Christ is kept in its fullness, Sunday by Sunday.
SatJan 17Saint Anthony, AbbotMemorialWedJan 21Saint Agnes, Virgin and MartyrMemorialThuJan 22Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn ChildrenMemorialProper to the United StatesSatJan 24Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialMonJan 26Saints Timothy and Titus, BishopsMemorialWedJan 28Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialSatJan 31Saint John Bosco, PriestMemorialMonFeb 2Presentation of the LordFeast of the LordThuFeb 5Saint Agatha, Virgin and MartyrMemorialFriFeb 6Saint Paul Miki and Companions, MartyrsMemorialTueFeb 10Saint Scholastica, VirginMemorialSatFeb 14Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, BishopMemorial
and 10 optional memorialsFewer
TueJan 13Saint Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialTueJan 20Saint Fabian, Pope and MartyrOptional MemorialTueJan 20Saint Sebastian, MartyrOptional MemorialThuJan 22Saint Vincent, Deacon and MartyrOptional MemorialTueJan 27Saint Angela Merici, VirginOptional MemorialTueFeb 3Saint Blase, Bishop and MartyrOptional MemorialTueFeb 3Saint Ansgar, BishopOptional MemorialSatFeb 7Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialWedFeb 11Our Lady of LourdesOptional MemorialTueFeb 17The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite OrderOptional Memorial
February 18 to April 1, 2026 · 43 days
Lent
Forty days of preparation for Easter, in penance and the renewal of baptism, from Ash Wednesday to the evening of Holy Thursday.
April 2 to April 4, 2026 · 3 days
Easter Triduum
The three days at the centre of the year: the Lord's Supper, his Passion and death, his rest in the tomb and his rising.
April 5 to May 24, 2026 · 50 days
Easter
Fifty days kept as one great Sunday, from Easter to Pentecost.
SunApr 5Easter SundaySunApr 12Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy SundaySatApr 25Saint Mark the EvangelistFeastWedApr 29Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialSatMay 2Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialThuMay 14Saint Matthias the ApostleFeastSunMay 17AscensionHoly day of obligationSunMay 24Pentecost
and 17 optional memorialsFewer
MonApr 13Saint Martin I, Pope and MartyrOptional MemorialTueApr 21Saint Anselm, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialThuApr 23Saint George, MartyrOptional MemorialThuApr 23Saint Adalbert, Bishop and MartyrOptional MemorialFriApr 24Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest and MartyrOptional MemorialTueApr 28Saint Peter Chanel, Priest and MartyrOptional MemorialTueApr 28Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, PriestOptional MemorialThuApr 30Saint Pius V, PopeOptional MemorialFriMay 1Saint Joseph the WorkerOptional MemorialTueMay 12Saints Nereus and Achilleus, MartyrsOptional MemorialTueMay 12Saint Pancras, MartyrOptional MemorialWedMay 13Our Lady of FatimaOptional MemorialFriMay 15Saint IsidoreOptional MemorialProper to the United StatesMonMay 18Saint John I, Pope and MartyrOptional MemorialWedMay 20Saint Bernardine of Siena, PriestOptional MemorialThuMay 21Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest, and Companions, MartyrsOptional MemorialFriMay 22Saint Rita of Cascia, ReligiousOptional Memorial
May 25 to November 28, 2026 · 188 days · now
Ordinary Time after Pentecost
The weeks outside the great seasons, in which the mystery of Christ is kept in its fullness, Sunday by Sunday.
MonMay 25Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the ChurchMemorialTueMay 26Saint Philip Neri, PriestMemorialSunMay 31Holy Trinity SundayMonJun 1Saint Justin MartyrMemorialWedJun 3Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, MartyrsMemorialFriJun 5Saint Boniface, Bishop and MartyrMemorialSunJun 7Corpus ChristiThuJun 11Saint Barnabas the ApostleMemorialFriJun 12Most Sacred Heart of JesusSolemnityWedJun 24The Nativity of Saint John the BaptistSolemnityMonJun 29Saints Peter and Paul, ApostlesSolemnityFriJul 3Saint Thomas the ApostleFeastSatJul 4Independence DayMemorialProper to the United StatesSatJul 11Saint Benedict, AbbotMemorialTueJul 14Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, VirginMemorialProper to the United StatesWedJul 15Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialWedJul 22Saint Mary MagdaleneMemorialSatJul 25Saint James, ApostleFeastWedJul 29Saint MarthaMemorialFriJul 31Saint Ignatius of Loyola, PriestMemorialSatAug 1Saint Alphonsus Mary Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialTueAug 4Saint John Mary Vianney, PriestMemorialThuAug 6The Transfiguration of the LordFeast of the LordSatAug 8Saint Dominic, PriestMemorialMonAug 10Saint Lawrence, Deacon and MartyrFeastTueAug 11Saint Clare, VirginMemorialFriAug 14Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and MartyrMemorialSatAug 15The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MarySolemnityHoly day of obligationThuAug 20Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialFriAug 21Saint Pius X, PopeMemorialSatAug 22The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin MaryMemorialMonAug 24Saint Bartholomew, ApostleFeastThuAug 27Saint MonicaMemorialFriAug 28Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialSatAug 29The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, MartyrMemorialThuSep 3Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialTueSep 8The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin MaryFeastWedSep 9Saint Peter Claver, PriestMemorialProper to the United StatesMonSep 14Exaltation of the Holy CrossFeast of the LordTueSep 15Our Lady of SorrowsMemorialWedSep 16Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, MartyrsMemorialMonSep 21Saint Matthew, Apostle and EvangelistFeastWedSep 23Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, PriestMemorialTueSep 29Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, ArchangelsFeastWedSep 30Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialThuOct 1Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialFriOct 2The Holy Guardian AngelsMemorialWedOct 7Our Lady of the RosaryMemorialThuOct 15Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialSatOct 17Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and MartyrMemorialMonOct 19Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, MartyrsMemorialWedOct 28Saints Simon and Jude, ApostlesFeastSunNov 1All SaintsSolemnityHoly day of obligationMonNov 2The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day)SolemnityWedNov 4Saint Charles Borromeo, BishopMemorialMonNov 9The Dedication of the Lateran BasilicaFeast of the LordTueNov 10Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the ChurchMemorialWedNov 11Saint Martin of Tours, BishopMemorialThuNov 12Saint Josaphat, Bishop and MartyrMemorialFriNov 13Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, VirginMemorialProper to the United StatesTueNov 17Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, ReligiousMemorialSatNov 21The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin MaryMemorialSunNov 22Christ the KingSolemnityTueNov 24Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, and Companions, MartyrsMemorialThuNov 26ThanksgivingMemorialProper to the United States
and 76 optional memorialsFewer
WedMay 27Saint Augustine of Canterbury, BishopOptional MemorialFriMay 29Saint Paul VI, PopeOptional MemorialSatMay 30Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialTueJun 2Saints Marcellinus and Peter, MartyrsOptional MemorialSatJun 6Saint Norbert, BishopOptional MemorialSatJun 6Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialTueJun 9Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialSatJun 13The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialSatJun 13Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialFriJun 19Saint Romuald, AbbotOptional MemorialSatJun 20Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialMonJun 22Saint Paulinus of Nola, BishopOptional MemorialMonJun 22Saints John Fisher, Bishop, and Thomas More, MartyrsOptional MemorialSatJun 27Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialSatJun 27Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialTueJun 30The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman ChurchOptional MemorialWedJul 1Blessed Junípero Serra, PriestOptional MemorialProper to the United StatesMonJul 6Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and MartyrOptional MemorialThuJul 9Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, MartyrsOptional MemorialMonJul 13Saint HenryOptional MemorialTueJul 14Saint Camillus de Lellis, PriestOptional MemorialThuJul 16Our Lady of Mount CarmelOptional MemorialSatJul 18Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialMonJul 20Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and MartyrOptional MemorialTueJul 21Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialThuJul 23Saint Bridget, ReligiousOptional MemorialFriJul 24Saint Sharbel Makhluf, HermitOptional MemorialThuJul 30Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialWedAug 5The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary MajorOptional MemorialFriAug 7Saint Sixtus II, Pope, and Companions, MartyrsOptional MemorialFriAug 7Saint Cajetan, PriestOptional MemorialWedAug 12Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, ReligiousOptional MemorialThuAug 13Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, MartyrsOptional MemorialWedAug 19Saint John Eudes, PriestOptional MemorialTueAug 25Saint LouisOptional MemorialTueAug 25Saint Joseph Calasanz, PriestOptional MemorialSatSep 5Saint Teresa of Calcutta, VirginOptional MemorialSatSep 5Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialSatSep 12The Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialSatSep 12Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialThuSep 17Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialThuSep 17Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchOptional MemorialSatSep 19Saint Januarius, Bishop and MartyrOptional MemorialSatSep 19Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialSatSep 26Saints Cosmas and Damian, MartyrsOptional MemorialSatSep 26Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialMonSep 28Saint Wenceslaus, MartyrOptional MemorialMonSep 28Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, MartyrsOptional MemorialSatOct 3Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialMonOct 5Saint Faustina KowalskaOptional MemorialTueOct 6Saint Bruno, PriestOptional MemorialTueOct 6Blessed Marie Rose Durocher, VirginOptional MemorialProper to the United StatesFriOct 9Saint Denis, Bishop, and Companions, MartyrsOptional MemorialFriOct 9Saint John Leonardi, PriestOptional MemorialSatOct 10Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialWedOct 14Saint Callistus I, Pope and MartyrOptional MemorialFriOct 16Saint Hedwig, ReligiousOptional MemorialFriOct 16Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, VirginOptional MemorialMonOct 19Saint Paul of the Cross, PriestOptional MemorialThuOct 22Saint John Paul II, PopeOptional MemorialFriOct 23Saint John of Capestrano, PriestOptional MemorialSatOct 24Saint Anthony Mary Claret, BishopOptional MemorialSatOct 24Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialSatOct 31Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialTueNov 3Saint Martin de Porres, ReligiousOptional MemorialSatNov 7Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialSatNov 14Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional MemorialMonNov 16Saint Margaret of ScotlandOptional MemorialMonNov 16Saint Gertrude the Great, VirginOptional MemorialWedNov 18The Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, ApostlesOptional MemorialWedNov 18Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, VirginOptional MemorialProper to the United StatesMonNov 23Saint Clement I, Pope and MartyrOptional MemorialMonNov 23Saint Columban, ReligiousOptional MemorialMonNov 23Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Priest and MartyrOptional MemorialProper to the United StatesWedNov 25Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and MartyrOptional MemorialSatNov 28Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin MaryOptional Memorial
The Table of Liturgical Days
How the days rank
Solemnities, and the days above themThe Triduum, Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension and Pentecost; the Sundays of Advent, Lent and Easter; Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and the Easter octave; the solemnities of the Lord, of Our Lady and of the saints.25 named this year
Feasts and SundaysFeasts of the Lord and the Sundays of Christmas Time and Ordinary Time; the feasts of Our Lady and of the saints; the weekdays of Advent from 17 December, the Christmas octave and the weekdays of Lent.19 named this year
Memorials and weekdaysObligatory memorials, which are kept; optional memorials, which may be; and the weekdays of the year.176 named this year
The Sunday readings run in a three-year cycle, A, B and C; the weekday readings in two, I and II; the psalter in four weeks. A new cycle begins with each Advent.
The colours
GreenOrdinary Time: hope, life, and growth in the Christian journey.
PurplePenance, preparation, and longing: used in Advent and Lent.
WhiteTodayJoy, purity, and glory: Christmas, Easter, and feasts of the Lord and saints.
RedThe Holy Spirit and martyrdom: Pentecost, Palm Sunday, and martyrs' feasts.
RoseRestrained joy: Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent.
BlackMourning and remembrance: All Souls' Day and funeral Masses.
Sources
- Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar, approved by Paul VI in the motu proprio Mysterii Paschalis, 14 February 1969
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1163 to 1173, on the liturgical year
- Dates, ranks and colours from the Liturgical Calendar API, national calendar of the United States, version 5.7
- The year as data