Random Liturgical Musings 6
Today on the feast of the holy apostles SS. Philip and James, the thought crossed my mind why the ten holy days of Obligation of the Universal Church were not recognised in their entirety except in Scotland. According to my missal these were the feasts of the Circumcision, Epiphany, St Joseph, Ascension, Corpus Christi, Sts Peter and Paul, Assumption, All Saints, Immaculate Conception and Nativity of our Lord.
Now in Australia the holy days of Obligation numbered five: Circumcision, Ascension, Assumption, All Saints and Nativity of our Lord. This was one less than the United States which added the Immaculate Conception and Canada which added the Epiphany. England included eight of the ten, omitting the feasts of St Joseph and Immaculate Conception.
I think that if the Church wanted to add another degree of catholicity, it could well have ordained that all ten feasts be obligatory together with the patronal feasts of each country. At least canon law required that parish priests offered mass on each of these days plus the former holy days of obligation: Easter Monday and Tuesday, Pentecost Monday and Tuesday, Invention of the Holy Cross, Purification, Annunciation and Nativity of our Lady, St Michael, St John the Baptist, St Stephen, the Holy Innocents, St Anne and the remaining apostles.
Mind you all this is now 'old hat' because of reforms to the calendar and canon law, for example in Australia the holy days of obligation have been reduced to the Assumption and Nativity of our Lord. Yet one cannot help thinking that if the Church really wants to advance Eucharistic fervour, it should consider having the holy days of obligation observed in all places and at all times. After all, the Mass is the summit and source of all worship and Christian life.
Now in Australia the holy days of Obligation numbered five: Circumcision, Ascension, Assumption, All Saints and Nativity of our Lord. This was one less than the United States which added the Immaculate Conception and Canada which added the Epiphany. England included eight of the ten, omitting the feasts of St Joseph and Immaculate Conception.
I think that if the Church wanted to add another degree of catholicity, it could well have ordained that all ten feasts be obligatory together with the patronal feasts of each country. At least canon law required that parish priests offered mass on each of these days plus the former holy days of obligation: Easter Monday and Tuesday, Pentecost Monday and Tuesday, Invention of the Holy Cross, Purification, Annunciation and Nativity of our Lady, St Michael, St John the Baptist, St Stephen, the Holy Innocents, St Anne and the remaining apostles.
Mind you all this is now 'old hat' because of reforms to the calendar and canon law, for example in Australia the holy days of obligation have been reduced to the Assumption and Nativity of our Lord. Yet one cannot help thinking that if the Church really wants to advance Eucharistic fervour, it should consider having the holy days of obligation observed in all places and at all times. After all, the Mass is the summit and source of all worship and Christian life.
posted by Lactantius at
9:55 pm
