- Solemnity
A Solemnity of the
Roman Catholic Church is a principalholy day in theliturgical calendar , usually commemorating an event in the life ofJesus , his mother Mary, or other importantsaint s. The observance begins with the vigil on the evening before the actual date of the feast.The word is taken from the Latin "sollemnitas", a term of uncertain origin but possibly derived from "sollus" (whole) and "annus" (year), indicating a
celebration occurring at yearly intervals. The Church always celebrates each solemnity every year.olemnities of the General Roman Calendar
pecial Solemnities
These solemnities are observed throughout the entire Roman Catholic Church. In addition, there are some which are observed in particular places, regions, or in particular religious orders. For instance, when a parish or other church celebrates the feast or memorial of its titular saint or when it celebrates the anniversary of its dedication, it is treated as a solemnity. ["See" General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar § 59(I)(4).] The feast of
Saint Patrick on17 March is a solemnity inIreland , and the feast ofOur Lady of Mount Carmel on16 July is a solemnity for theCarmelites .Some solemnities are also
Holy Days of Obligation , on which Catholics are required to attend Mass; some are not. Moreover, thecanon law of the Catholic Church requires that on Holy Days of Obligation Catholics are to avoid "work" and "affairs" that "hinder the worship to be rendered to God" or interfere with "suitable relaxation of mind and body" just as is required on Sundays. [Can. 1247, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4N.HTM "Code of Canon Law"] ]cheduling
Solemnities never impede the Easter Triduum, Pentecost, Sundays of Advent, Sundays of Lent, Sundays of the Easter Season, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and the Easter Octave. No solemnity except the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday can fall during Holy Week or during the Octave of Easter; the Church transfers any otherwise scheduled solemnity to another available date.
Solemnities of the Lord (Epiphany, Annunciation, Ascension, Corpus Christi, Trinity, Christ the King, Nativity), Solemnities of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mother of God, Assumption, Immaculate Conception), Solemnities of Saints Listed in the General Calendar (Joseph, Nativity of John the Baptist, Peter and Paul, All Saints), All Souls Day, and proper solemnities can impede other Sundays throughout the year.
For all intents and purposes, this means that a solemnity always can impede a Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Observance
The Creed is recited at Mass, and there are two scriptural readings and a responsoral
psalm before theGospel . When a solemnity falls on a Friday, the obligation to abstain from meat or dopenance is lifted. ["Codex Iuris Canonici" canon 1251.]See also
*
Liturgical year
*Holy Day of Obligation
*Octave (liturgical)
*Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church
*Afterfeast References
External links
* [http://www.universalis.com/-500/calendar.htm#0 Universalis] An excellent liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church including the liturgy of the hours and the mass readings.
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14133a.htm "Solemnity"] article from "The Catholic Encyclopedia " (1912)
* [http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/2008cal.pdf] Liturgical calendar for the year 2008 in the United States of America
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.