Click the PDF below for a detailed Liturgical Calendar for April - May 2024

April 2024

• The first eight days of the Easter Season make up the octave of Easter and are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord (Ceremonial of Bishops, 373). 
• The Gloria is to be sung or recited during the octave of Easter. 
• The Sequence is optional during the days of the octave (GIRM, 64). 
• The double Alleluia is added to the dismissal formulary during the octave of Easter (Easter Vigil, 69).
• Paschal Candle should be lit and remains by the ambo until Pentecost. 
• Consider using the Sprinkling Rite instead of the Penitential Act. 
• Creed is not said. 
• Preface I of Easter is used. 
• Solemn Blessing #6 for Easter Time may be used during the octave. 

• The celebration of Divine Mercy flows from the Church’s most important day, which is Easter Sunday, thus the faithful should be able to celebrate and recognize it as such. 
• Devotional practices to the Divine Mercy may not take place during Mass.  
• On this Sunday of Divine Mercy, prayers for the plenary indulgence that are offered today should be led by priests after Masses.  
• For more information on Divine Mercy:
  https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/easter   
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is said. 
• Since it is the last day of the octave, the sequence may be sung. 
• Use Preface I of Easter with Eucharistic Prayer I 
• Solemn Blessing #6 for Easter Time may be used with double Alleluia. 

• Solemnity transferred from March 25 (Monday of Holy Week) to April 8
• Prayer texts are proper and taken from March 25.
• Sprinkling Rite may be used instead of Penitential Act.
• Gloria is sung.
• Creed is said. 
• Solemn Blessing #15 may be used. 
• A Marian image of the Annunciation may be decorated and reverenced with incense. 

• Prayer texts are proper and taken from Third Sunday of Easter.
• Sprinkling Rite may be used instead of Penitential Act.
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is said.
• No double Alleluia in the final dismissal. 

• For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, just as Christ gathered his disciples and handed them his ministry of sharing the Good News, may many more people hear and respond to the call of Christ, We pray to the Lord.
  
• Para que Cristo, que reunió a sus discípulos a su alrededor con el fin de asociarlos a su predicación evangélica, suscite también en nuestros días servidores de su Evangelio por medio de la vocación al sacerdocio y los órdenes religiosos, Roguemos al Señor.

• Prayer texts are proper and found in the Proper of Saints
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is omitted. 
• Consider using the sprinkling rite on this feast day.
• Use Preface II of the Apostles
• Solemn Blessing #17 may be used. 

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May 2024

• The sprinkling of the faithful with holy water may continue instead of the Penitential Act. 
• The Gloria is sung or recited during Sundays. 
• Consider using the Apostles’ Creed.
• Any of the five prefaces of Easter may be used. 
• There is no double Alleluia in the final dismissal (Except Pentecost Sunday) 

• This link provides a template for the May Crowing ritual.
• https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/m/may-crownings.php 
• The Office for Divine Worship has other resources; The Order of Crowning an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you need a copy of the rite please email, Amaris Hernandez at AEHernandez@la-archdiocese.org
  

• Prayers are taken from the Proper of Saints.
• The following prayer of the faithful may be added:
  • Father of all humanity, do not forget what your hands have made, grant that all who work may have secure employment and a fitting standard of living, We pray to the Lord.
  • Padre de toda la humanidad, te pedimos no olvides lo que tus manos han creado, concede que todos los que trabajamos mantengamos empleo seguro y un modo de vida digno, Roguemos al Señor.

• Prayers are proper and found in the Proper of Saints
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is not said. 
• Solemn Blessing #17 may be used. 
  

1. Our ecclesiastical province (and most dioceses in USA) has transferred this Solemnity from Thursday, May 9 to Sunday, May 12.
2. The weekdays after the Ascension through the Saturday before Pentecost is a time of preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
3. During these days the hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus, may be sung at Mass and Liturgy of the Hours.
4. Paschal Candle is lit.
5. White Vestments
6. Two sets of formularies to be used: 
   • 1) At the Vigil Mass
   • 2) At the Mass during the day
7. Gloria is sung.
8. Apostle's Creed may be used during the Easter Season. 
9. Use Preface I or II of the Ascension
10. Use Solemn Blessing #7.
11. Double Alleluia is NOT during dismissal. 

• For all mothers, that they may be blessed in their love and care for their families. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide them with wisdom and love, We pray to the Lord.
• Por todas las madres, que sean bendecidas en el amor y cuidado que imparten con sus familias. Que el Espíritu Santo continue guiándolas en sabiduría y amor, Roguemos al Señor.

• Prayers are proper and found in the Proper of Saints
• Sprinkling rite may be used.
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is not said. 
• May use the Preface of the Apostles
• Solemn Blessing for the Apostles may be used.

• Prayers from the Book of Blessings may be used. 
  • Chapter 26 Blessing of Fields and Flock
  • Chapter 27 Blessing of Seeds at Planting Time

• Please click on the liturgical calendar PDF above for a DETAILED explanation of the Celebration for the Pentecost Vigil and Sunday Masses. 
• Vestments: RED
• Two sets of formularies to be used: 
  • 1) At the Vigil Mass (Extended or simple forms may be used)
    • Extended Form - please see details below.
    • Simple Form follows the regular form of Mass.
  • 2) At the Mass during the day

• Parishes are invited to celebrate the Vigil of Pentecost on Saturday, May 18. It is a prolonged celebration of Mass in the form of a Vigil, whose character is not baptismal as in the Easter Vigil, but is one of urgent prayer, after the example of the apostles and disciples, who persevered together in prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as they awaited the Holy Spirit.
  

• The Pentecost Sequence, “Veni Sancte Spiritus,” is obligatory on Pentecost Sunday and may be omitted at the Vigil. It is fitting to use the sprinkling rite on this day and the Paschal candle is to be lit at all Masses. The Paschal Candle is moved to the baptistery after the last mass or Vespers, which concludes the Easter Season.
• Sacraments of Initiation can take place at any Sunday during Easter. However, due to the nature of its celebration, Pentecost Sunday is recommended for the celebration of Confirmation for adults (when faculties by bishop have been obtained).  
• The double alleluia is added to the final blessing. 
• Ordinary Time begins after Evening Prayer tonight.

• Mass Propers are taken from the Votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary, #10/B. “Our Lady, Mother of the Church.” 
• A set of proper (i.e., mandatory) readings has been assigned for this memorial (no. 572 A). 
• The readings for this memorial, and proper text for Liturgy of the Hours can be found here.
  
• Now that it is Ordinary Time, the paschal candle should be relocated to its permanent location at the baptismal font. Light it for sacramental celebrations including baptisms, and of course, funerals.

• Mass texts and preface are proper.
• Gloria is sung.
• Creed is said. 
• Solemn Blessing #9 may be used. 

• The Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice #30A or B may be used. 
• Order for Visiting a Cemetery may be used, which is found in the Book of Blessing, Chapter 57.
• You may incorporate the intentions of those who have died in service to their country in today's Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful).

• Vestments: White
• Mass texts, and readings are proper. 
• The Gloria is sung.
• The Creed is omitted.
• Preface II of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be used.
• Solemn Blessing #15 may be used. 

Question: Can the Creed be replaced on the Sundays of Easter with the Renewal of Baptismal Promises?

Answer: Click on the PDF to find out... 

New Updated Confirmation Guidelines