January 2025

• Although today is New Year's Day, the solemnity may not be replaced with the Mass for Civil Needs: At the Beginning of the Civil Year. 
• Vestments: White
• Gloria is said or sung.
• Creed is recited.
• Preface 1 of the Blessed Virgin Mary is used.
• Solemn Blessing #2, #3, or #15.

• Every year on January 1, the Holy Father marks the World Day of Peace with a special message inviting all people to reflect on the important work of building peace.
  
• World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1 every year, is primarily a Catholic feast day dedicated to universal peace on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.  
• World Day of Peace began in 1967 when Pope Paul VI announced that the world needs to be sensitized and oriented for peace and understanding. 
• More information, please CLICK HERE. 

• If an anticipated Mass is celebrated, the Mass prayers "At the Vigil Mass" is used. A Vigil Mass is celebrated before or after the First Vespers of the Epiphany.
• The readings for the Epiphany will be the same as the Mass during the Day. 
• Vestments: White
  
• Gloria is sung with splendor.
• Creed is said.
• Preface of the Epiphany is used. 
• Solemn Blessing #4 may be used. 
• The Christmas decorations in the church remain until after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. 
• On Epiphany Sunday, there is an ancient custom of announcing the dates of the movable feasts for the coming year. This Epiphany Proclamation may take place after the Gospel, or within or after the homily. 
  • See the Roman Missal, Appendix I: The Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts.
    

• The Christmas Season concludes after this feast. 
• The Christmas decorations in the church are removed after this celebration. 
• Gloria is sung with splendor.
• Creed is said.
• Sprinkling Rite may be used. 
• Christmas Solemn Blessing #4 or #9 may be used.
  

• On this day, all dioceses of the United States shall observe a "day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion" (GIRM, 373.)
• Refer to the Lectionary for Mass: Supplement (LS) #516A; readings for the Day of Prayer may be taken from the Masses for Various Needs, III (In Public Circumstances, #26A), For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life (#947A-947E, LS), or For Public Needs: 14. For Peace and Justice (#887-891, Lectionary for Mass).
• If using the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions: For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life, wear white vestments.
• If using the Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice, wear violet vestments. 
• Prayer over the People #23 may be used. 

• Prayers are proper and found in the Proper of Saints
• Vestments: White
• Gloria is sung or said.
• Creed is not said. 
• Use Preface 1 of the Apostles
• Solemn Blessing #16 may be used.

• On September 30, 2019, Pope Francis, in his motu propio, Aperuit illis, declared that "the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God."
• Blessing of Readers may take place after the homily. Please see Book of Blessings, Ch. 61. This is a good opportunity for Readers/Lectors to renew their commitment to the ministry.

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February 2025

• Mass Proper is taken from the Proper of Saints (February 2)
• Mass may begin with the blessing of candles.
• Two (2) forms of procession may be used: 
  • First Form: The Procession
    • Invite the faithful to gather outside the regular worship space.
    • Candles should be lit before the procession.
    • Opening Hymn is played while the candles are being lit, followed by the Sign of the Cross, Greeting, and special introduction.
    • Candles are blessed and procession into the church takes place.
      
  • Second Form: The Solemn Entrance
    • People gather in the church and candles are blessed.
    • No procession takes place.
      
• Penitential Act is NOT used today. 
• Gloria is sung.
• Creed is recited.

• If religious sisters and brothers are present at the Mass, a special blessing may be given to them after the homily or after the Prayer after Communion.
• Prayer of the Faithful or Mass Intention to include religious sisters and brothers.
• For more information, click here.

• It is customary to celebrate Saint Blaise Feast with a blessing of throats. The blessing may be found in the Book of Blessings, "Order for the Blessing of Throats on the Feast of Saint Blaise", Chapter 51. 
• The blessing of throats may be given today by a priest, deacon, or lay minister who follows the rites and prayers designated for a lay minister. 
• The blessing usually follows the homily and general intercessions, or it may take place of the final blessing of the Mass. 
• The candles to be used for the blessing of throats are blessed during Mass at the Presentation of the Lord, February 2. 

• Prayers are proper and found in the Proper of Saints
• Gloria is sung or said.
• Creed is not said. 
• Use Preface 1 of the Apostles
• Solemn Blessing #16 may be used.

• Be on the lookout for workshops and guidelines coming in the Fall & Winter. 
  
• Orders SHIP OUT DATE: November 1, 2024. 
• FIRST USE DATE: December 1, 2024, 1st Sunday of Advent
• MANDATORY USE DATE: March 5, 2025, Ash Wednesday
  • Liturgy Training Publications (Chicago, IL) 
    • Ritual Book - English (OCIA)
    • Study Edition - English (OCIA)
    • Ritual Book - Español (RICA)
    • Study Edition - Español (RICA)
    • Ritual Book - (OCIA/RICA) Bilingual
  • Liturgical Press (Collegeville, MN)
    • Ritual Book - English
    • Study Edition - English
    • Study Edition - Español
  • Catholic Book Publishing (Totowa, NJ)  
    • Ritual Book - English
    • Ritual Book - Bilingual
  • Magnificat (Yonkers, NY)
    • Ritual Book 
  • Midwest Theological Forum (Downers Grove, IL)
    • Ritual Book
    • Ritual Book - Bilingual

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