November 2023

• Vestments: White
  
• Gloria is recited or sung. 
• Creed is said.
• Solemn Blessing #18 may be used. 
• Ritual Masses (i.e. Order of Matrimony) are not permitted today.  
• If the parish has any relics of saints, they can be carried in the opening procession and placed in an area where parishioners can venerate them after Mass. 
• Consider chanting the Litany of Saints for the opening procession. You can add the patron saint and saints that adorn the church or featured in the windows or different saints from the various ethnic groups of the parish. For a detailed resource on the structure of the Litany of the Saints, click here. 
• If you have any questions about how to prepare your Litany of Saints, please call Victor Wheeler at (213) 637-7054.
• Religious articles and sacramentals may be blessed. (See Book of Blessings, Chapters 44, 45, & 46).

• Vestments: White, Black, or Violet/Purple may be used.
• Gloria is not said or sung. 
• Creed is not said. 
• Ritual Masses (i.e. Order of Matrimony) are not permitted today.  
• Funeral Masses or Masses for the Dead are permitted. 
• Any of the 5 prefaces for the Dead may be used. 
• Solemn Blessing #20 Celebrations for the Dead may be used. 
• See Book of Blessings, Chapter 57 "Order for Visiting a Cemetery on All Souls' Day, Memorial Day, or on the Anniversary of Death or Burial."
• Parishes may display a Book of the Names of the Dead, in which parishioners may write the names of their loved ones. 

• That God may welcome into the light of his face all who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, let us pray to the Lord.
  
• Para que Cristo, que con su muerte destruyó la muerte y con su gloriosa resurrección dio la vida al mundo entero, conceda el lugar de la luz y la felicidad eternas a nuestros hermanos difuntos, roguemos al Señor.  

• Vocations Resources
  • USCCB
  • LA Vocations

• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is omitted.
• Sprinkling Rite may be used today.
• Solemn Blessing #19 for the Dedication of a Church may be used.
• Reflect on the following:
  
  • Is your parish dedicated?
  • Do you know the date of your parish's dedication?
  • Has your parish celebrated its dedication before or preparing to celebrate it?

• The Missal for the United States provides a set of prayers, including a preface, at the end of the PS. Consider using the collect from MPVN/48.1 as the concluding prayer for the UP.
  
• Any readings from LM #943-947 may be used.
  
• The Gloria and Creed are not sung or said.
• For the “Blessing of Food on Thanksgiving Day,” see Book of Blessings Ch. 38.

• Vestments: Red 
• Readings for this Memorial may also be found in the Lectionary for Mass Supplement, no 683 B.  

• Vestments: White
• Rite for the Blessing and Sprinkling of Water may be used.
• Gloria is sung.
• Creed is prayed.
• Solemn Blessing #11 may be used.
• Ritual Masses (i.e. Order of Matrimony) are not permitted today.  

• Vestments: Red
• Gloria is sung or said.  
• Creed is omitted.

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December 2022

• Gloria is not said or sung.
• Creed is recited.
• Preface 1 of Advent is used through December 16. 

• Bless your wreath once; simply light the candle before all other Masses.
• Blessing of the Advent wreath can be found in the Book of Blessings, Chapter 47. If done during Mass, it should take place after the Universal Prayer

• Vestment: White
• Ritual Masses (i.e. Order of Matrimony) are not permitted.
• Today is a solemnity. Incorporating incense, festive music, and a more formal Gospel procession is appropriate. 
• The Gloria is said or sung. 
• The Creed is recited. 
• Preface is proper and found on the pages in the missal for the Immaculate Conception.
• Solemn Blessing #1 or #15 may be used. 

• The Gloria is sung or said. 
• The Creed is omitted.
• Add the needs of pregnant women for the Universal Prayer; for sample intercessions see Book of Blessings, Chapter 1, Section 8. "Order for the Blessing of a Mother"
• In the US it is a feast not a solemnity like in Mexico, thus the Gloria is said or sung, but the Creed is omitted during the mass.
  While the Mexican leccionario indicates three readings (1^st Reading: Zec 2:14-17; 2^nd Reading: Rev. 11; Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 or Luke 1:39-47) for Dec. 12, here in the US there is only one reading before the Gospel since it is a Feast. In other words, at mass one of these two readings may be proclaimed Zec 2:14-17 or Rev. 11, followed by the Responsorial Psalm, Alleluia, and then one of the two options for the Gospel. This is indicated by the American Lectionary for Dec. 12 and the Ordo.
   
  Mientras que el leccionario mexicano indica tres lecturas (1ª Lectura: Zac 2,14-17; 2ª Lectura: Apoc. 11; Evangelio: San Lucas 1,26-38 o San Lucas 1,39-47) para el 12 de diciembre, aquí en Estados Unidos solamente hay una lectura antes del Evangelio por tratarse de una Fiesta. En otras palabras, en la misa se puede proclamar una de estas dos lecturas, Zac 2,14-17 o Apoc 11, seguida del Salmo Responsorial, Aleluya, y luego una de las dos opciones para el Evangelio. Así lo indica el Leccionario Americano para el 12 de diciembre y el Ordo. 

• A Filipino tradition of 9-Day Novena of Masses in preparation for the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Philippines, the tradition is celebrated in the early morning before dawn (4am), but here in the United States, the Masses have been adapted to the evenings (7pm) to accommodate people who work.
• December 15 - 23 (Evening Masses) or 16-24 (Early Dawn Masses) Simbang Gabi Novena through the various parishes of the Archdiocese

• Liturgical Color: Rose or Violet
• The Gloria is not sung or said.
  
• Creed is recited.

• Second part of Advent begins.
• The prayer texts and readings for Weekday Masses are taken from the specific calendar date.
• O Antiphons begin. 
• Preface II of Advent may be used beginning December 17

• The Gloria is not sung. 
• Creed is recited.
• Preface II of Advent is used.
• Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent start at 4PM on Saturday, December 23.

Christmas Masses

• Vestments: White/Gold
• The Gloria is sung or said. 
• The Creed is recited. Remind the assembly that all kneel when the incarnation is mentioned.
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord (#2) may be used. 
• Blessing of the Nativity Scene can be found in the Book of Blessing, Ch. 48 
• Blessing of a Christmas Tree can be found in the Book of Blessing, Ch. 49.

• Anticipated Masses for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ start at 4PM at the earliest. 

• The Christmas proclamation should be sung before the Mass during the Night begins. The text is found in appendix I of the missal. The entrance song immediately follows the chant.

• Vestments: Red
• Gloria is said or sung
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord may be used to unify the days of the octave.

• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord may be used.
• Please include the following petition as part of the universal prayers: 
  • English: For the faculty, staff and seminarians of Saint John seminary, that they may continue to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, we pray to the Lord.
  • Español: Por la facultad universitaria, el personal y los seminaristas en el seminario de San Juan, para que puedan continuar creciendo como discípulos de Jesucristo, roguemos al Señor. 

• Vestments: Red
• Gloria is said or sung
• Solemn Blessing for the Nativity of the Lord may be used to unify the days of the octave.

• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is recited.
• Solemn Blessing #2, #3, or Prayer over the people #25 may be used. 
• Blessing of a Family (see Book of Blessings, Ch. 1)

• Blessing of the New Year (see Catholic Houshold Book of Blessings and Prayers, 85-87)