| DIES | 17 Sun | 18 Mon | 19 Tue | 20 Wed | 21 Thu | 22 Fri | 23 Sat | 24 Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officium | S. Paschalis Baylon Confessoris | S. Venantii Martyris | S. Petri Celestini Papæ et Confessoris | S. Bernardini Senensis Confessoris | In Octava Ascensionis | Feria VI post Octavam Ascensionis | In vigilia Pentecostes | Dominica Pentecostes |
| Classis | Duplex | Duplex | Duplex | Semiduplex | Duplex majus | Semiduplex | Duplex I | Duplex I |
| Color | Albus | Rubeum | Albus | Albus | Albus | Albus | Rubeum | Rubeum |
| Missa | Os justi | Protexísti | Státuit | Os justi | Viri Galilǽi | Exáudi | Cum sanctificátus | Spíritus Dómini |
| Orationes | 2a. Dominica infra Octavam Ascensionis 3a. pro Octava Ascensionis | 2a. Feria II infra Octavam Ascensionis | 2a. Feria III infra Octavam Ascensionis 3a. S. Pudentianæ Virginis | 2a. Feria IV infra Octavam Ascensionis 3a. de S. Maria | NA | 2a. de S. Maria 3a. Contra persecutores Ecclesiæ | NA | NA |
| Notae | Gl. Cr. Pref. et Communicantes de Ascensione Domini Ult. Ev. de Dom. infra. | Gl. Cr. Pref. et Communicantes de Ascensione Domini | Gl. Cr. Pref. et Communicantes de Ascensione Domini | Gl. Cr. Pref. et Communicantes de Ascensione Domini | Gl. Cr. Pref. et Communicantes de Ascensione Domini | Gl. Cr. Pref. de Ascensione Domini | Gl. Pref. Communicantes et Hanc igitur de Pentecostes | Gl. Cr. Pref. Communicantes et Hanc igitur de Pentecostes |
| Votiva | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur | UK: S. Dunstanus Cantuariensis Missa Sacerdotes tui | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur | ||
| Nota Bene | ||||||||
* Color: Albus = White; Rubeum = Red; Viridis = Green; Purpura = Purple; Niger = Black
After Septuagesima, the Alleluia is entirely omitted, even on saints’ feasts. Votive Masses are permitted privately, but always without Gloria or Credo. The Church’s pedagogy is unmistakable: joy is not abolished, but disciplined, ordered toward the Paschal victory that lies beyond Lent.
Sunday 17 May — Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension
Primary Office: Paschal Baylón — S. Paschalis Baylon Confessoris
Class: Duplex
Colour: White (Albus)
Mass: Os justi (“The mouth of the just”) — Common Mass of a Confessor not a Bishop.
Although the day falls within the sacred joy of the Ascension Octave, the Office is assigned to St Paschal Baylon (1540–1592), the humble Franciscan lay brother known especially for Eucharistic devotion and contemplation of the Blessed Sacrament. A shepherd in youth, he later became renowned for mystical prayer and simplicity of life, eventually being declared patron of Eucharistic congresses.
Because this Sunday occurs within the Octave of the Ascension, the liturgy remains strongly marked by Ascensiontide. The second collect commemorates the Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension, while the third collect is for the Octave itself, ensuring the seasonal mystery remains foregrounded.
The Preface and Communicantes of the Ascension are used, and the Last Gospel is not St John 1 but the Gospel of the Sunday within the Octave (Ultimum Evangelium de Dominica infra Octavam), preserving the Sunday character of the day. Gloria and Credo are both said.
Spiritually, the day holds together two themes: the contemplative Eucharistic devotion of St Paschal and the Church’s waiting between Ascension and Pentecost — Christ enthroned in Heaven, the Church still expectant below.
Monday 18 May — St Venantius, Martyr
Primary Office: Venantius of Camerino — S. Venantii Martyris
Class: Duplex
Colour: Red (Rubeum)
Mass: Protexísti me (“Thou hast protected me”) — Proper Mass of a Martyr.
St Venantius is an early Christian martyr, traditionally associated with Camerino in Italy, believed to have suffered during the persecutions under Emperor Decius. Medieval devotion embellished his passion narrative with vivid accounts of endurance under torture and miraculous preservation.
The liturgy emphasizes triumph through suffering, hence the red vestments, symbolising martyrdom and the shedding of blood for Christ.
Because the Church remains in Ascensiontide, the second collect commemorates Monday within the Octave of the Ascension, and the Preface and Communicantes of the Ascension continue. Gloria and Credo are said.
The juxtaposition is instructive: Christ ascends gloriously, and His martyrs follow after Him through fidelity unto death.
Tuesday 19 May — St Peter Celestine, Pope and Confessor
Primary Office: Pope Celestine V — S. Petri Celestini Papæ et Confessoris
Class: Duplex
Colour: White (Albus)
Mass: Státuit (“The Lord made a covenant”) — Common Mass for a Pope-Confessor.
St Peter Celestine (1215–1296), known as Pope Celestine V, was a hermit unexpectedly elevated to the papacy. Overwhelmed by curial politics and recognising his own limitations, he famously abdicated after only a few months — one of the rare papal resignations in history.
He became a symbol of humility and holy detachment from worldly power, returning to an eremitical life after renouncing the papal office.
The second collect commemorates Tuesday within the Octave of the Ascension, while the third collect honours Pudentiana St Pudentiana, an early Roman virgin associated with one of the oldest Christian sites in Rome.
The Ascension Preface and Communicantes continue. Gloria and Credo are said.
In the United Kingdom, there is also provision for the commemoration of Dunstan St Dunstan of Canterbury, one of the great reforming archbishops of Anglo-Saxon England, using the Mass Sacerdotes tui.
Wednesday 20 May — St Bernardine of Siena, Confessor
Primary Office: Bernardine of Siena — S. Bernardini Senensis Confessoris
Class: Semiduplex
Colour: White (Albus)
Mass: Os justi
St Bernardine of Siena (1380–1444), the great Franciscan preacher of the late Middle Ages, became famous for fiery preaching, public moral reform, and devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, often displaying the trigram IHS as a visual catechesis.
He travelled extensively throughout Italy preaching repentance, civic reconciliation, and Christian renewal amid political factionalism.
The second collect commemorates Wednesday within the Octave of the Ascension, while the third collect (de S. Maria) invokes the Blessed Virgin Mary.
As throughout the octave, the Preface and Communicantes of the Ascension remain in force. Gloria and Credo are said.
Liturgically, the day exemplifies the Church’s confidence that reform begins not with institutions but with conversion of hearts — precisely the work Bernardine pursued.
Thursday 21 May — Within the Octave of the Ascension
Primary Office: In Octava Ascensionis
Class: Duplex majus
Colour: White (Albus)
Mass: Viri Galilǽi (“Ye men of Galilee”).
This is the principal observance of the day: the Octave Day of the Ascension, a major liturgical continuation of Ascension Thursday itself.
The liturgy revisits the mystery of Christ’s enthronement in Heaven and His continuing intercession as eternal High Priest. The Church contemplates the paradox of apparent absence and deeper presence: Christ departs visibly so as to reign invisibly and send the Holy Ghost.
No additional commemorations are listed (NA). Gloria and Credo are said, and the Ascension Preface and Communicantes remain.
This day concludes the liturgical octave proper and marks the Church’s intensified expectation of Pentecost.
Friday 22 May — Friday after the Octave of the Ascension
Primary Office: Feria VI post Octavam Ascensionis
Class: Semiduplex
Colour: White (Albus)
Mass: Exáudi, Dómine (“Hear, O Lord”).
Having completed the octave, the Church enters a brief period of prayerful expectation before Pentecost.
The liturgy becomes quieter and more supplicatory. There is a commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by a third collect Against the Persecutors of the Church (Contra persecutores Ecclesiæ), reflecting the Church’s perennial awareness of spiritual and temporal struggle.
The Preface of the Ascension remains, though the special Communicantes of the Ascension cease after the octave.
Only the Gloria is said; there is no Credo.
Spiritually, the Church resembles the Apostles gathered in the Cenacle — waiting, praying, and persevering before the coming of the Holy Ghost.
Saturday 23 May — Vigil of Pentecost
Primary Office: In vigilia Pentecostes
Class: Duplex I Classis
Colour: Red (Rubeum)
Mass: Cum sanctificátus fuero
The Vigil of Pentecost serves as a solemn threshold to one of the Church’s greatest feasts.
In the traditional rite, this vigil once possessed a more elaborate penitential and baptismal character resembling the Easter Vigil. Even in simplified forms, it retains a profound sense of anticipation.
The red vestments signify the approaching fire of the Holy Ghost. The liturgy prepares souls for divine indwelling and ecclesial renewal.
The Preface, Communicantes, and Hanc igitur of Pentecost begin here, anticipating the feast itself. Gloria is said, but not the Credo.
No votive Masses are permitted due to the high rank of the vigil.
Sunday 24 May — Pentecost Sunday
Primary Office: Dominica Pentecostes
Class: Duplex I Classis
Colour: White (Albus in your Ordo; though traditionally often red in many usages)
Mass: Spíritus Dómini (“The Spirit of the Lord”).
Pentecost is one of the Church’s supreme solemnities, commemorating the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary fifty days after Easter.
The feast marks the public manifestation of the Church’s mission and the supernatural empowerment of the Apostles for evangelisation. The tongues of fire signify purification, illumination, and divine charity.
The Mass proclaims the universality of the Gospel: the confusion of Babel is overcome as all nations hear the mighty works of God proclaimed.
Both Gloria and Credo are said, and the Pentecost Proper Preface, Communicantes, and Hanc igitur are used.
In the traditional Roman understanding, Pentecost is not merely the “birthday of the Church,” but the manifestation and empowerment of the Church already founded by Christ, now vivified and publicly sent forth through the coming of the Holy Ghost.
Leave a Reply