| DIES | 19 Sun | 20 Mon | 21 Tue | 22 Wed | 23 Thu | 24 Fri | 25 Sat | 26 Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officium | S. Vincentii a Paulo Confessoris | S. Hieronymi Æmiliani Confessoris | S. Praxedis Virginis | S. Mariæ Magdalenæ Pœnitentis | S. Apollinaris Episcopi et Martyris | In Vigilia S. Jacobi Ap. | S. Jacobi Apostoli | S. Annæ Matris B.M.V. |
| Classis | Duplex | Duplex | Simplex | Duplex | Duplex | Simplex | Duplex II | Duplex II |
| Color | Albus | Albus | Albus | Albus | Rubeum | Purpura | Rubeum | Albus |
| Missa | Justus ut | Effúsum est | Loquébar | Me exspectavérunt | Lætábitur | Ego autem | Mihi autem | Gaudeámus |
| Orationes | 2a. Dominica VIII Post Pentecosten | 2a. S. Margaritæ, Virg. et Mart. | 2a. Ad poscenda suffragia Sanctorum 3a. de S. Maria (vel ad libitum) | NA | 2a. S. Liborii Episcopi et Confessoris | 2a. S. Christinæ Virginis et Martyris 3a. Ad poscenda suffragia Sanctorum | 2a.S. Christophori Martyris | 2a. Dominica IX Post Pentecosten |
| Notae | Gl. Cr. Pref. de sanctissima Trinitate | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Pref. de Communis | Gl. Cr. Pref. de Apostolis | Gl. Cr. Pref. de sanctissima Trinitate |
| Votiva | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur | UK: S. Lewinnae; Commemoratio In Vigilia S. Jacobi Ap.: Missa “Me expectaverunt” | Votiva non permittuntur | Votiva non permittuntur |
| Nota Bene | ||||||||
* Color: Albus = White; Rubeum = Red; Viridis = Green; Purpura = Purple; Niger = Black
Nota Bene The feast of the Precious Blood was traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday in July
Sunday, 19 July — Saint Vincent de Paul, Confessor
The Church begins the week in white vestments with the Double feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, the great apostle of Christian charity. Born into a peasant family in Gascony, Vincent became a priest, missionary, reformer of the clergy and organiser of practical assistance for the poor. His charity was never merely humanitarian: he recognised the suffering Christ in the abandoned, the sick, the imprisoned and the spiritually neglected. The Mass Justus ut palma florebit presents the saint as the just man who flourishes like the palm tree because his life is rooted in God. The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated, retaining the warning of the unjust steward that the children of light must employ temporal goods with supernatural prudence. The Gloria and Creed are said, with the Preface of the Most Holy Trinity. Votive Masses are not permitted.
Monday 20 July — Saint Jerome Emiliani, Confessor
Saint Jerome Emiliani is honoured with a Double feast in white. A Venetian soldier taken prisoner during war, he attributed his deliverance from captivity to the Blessed Virgin and thereafter turned decisively towards a life of penance and charity. Ordained to the priesthood, he devoted himself particularly to the victims of plague and famine, establishing homes for orphans, the sick and women seeking to reform their lives. His work eventually produced the Clerks Regular of Somascha, whose principal apostolate was the care and Christian education of abandoned children. The Mass Effusum est gratia celebrates the grace poured forth upon the servant who makes his whole life an instrument of Divine Providence. Saint Margaret, Virgin and Martyr, is commemorated, recalling the courage of the young Christian who preferred death to idolatry. The Gloria is said with the Common Preface. Votive Masses are not permitted.
Tuesday 21 July — Saint Praxedes, Virgin
The red vestments of this Simple feast recall the ancient Roman witness of Saint Praxedes. She is traditionally associated with Saint Pudentiana and with one of the oldest Christian households of Rome. During persecution she assisted the faithful, relieved prisoners, sheltered endangered Christians and reverently gathered the remains of the martyrs. Her cult is closely connected with the Roman basilica bearing her name, near Saint Mary Major, to which Pope Paschal I translated the relics of numerous martyrs in the ninth century. The Mass Loquebar de testimoniis tuis places upon her lips the fearless confession: “I spoke of thy testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed.” The Gloria is said, followed by the prayers seeking the suffrages of the saints and a prayer of the Blessed Virgin, or another prayer chosen ad libitum. The Common Preface is used. Unlike the other days of the week, votive Masses are permitted.
Wednesday 22 July — Saint Mary Magdalen, Penitent
Saint Mary Magdalen is celebrated with a Double feast in white as the supreme evangelical image of penitence transformed into ardent love. Delivered by Our Lord from seven devils, she followed Him faithfully, stood near His Cross when many had fled, watched His burial and became the first recorded witness of the Resurrection. The traditional Latin interpretation also identifies her with the repentant woman who washed the feet of Christ with her tears and with Mary of Bethany, who chose the “one thing necessary”. The Mass Me exspectaverunt peccatores unites repentance, contemplation and persevering love. Its Gospel proclaims the pardon granted to the woman “because she hath loved much”, teaching that genuine contrition does not end in sterile regret but in a heart wholly surrendered to Christ. The Gloria is said with the Common Preface. No additional commemoration is appointed, and votive Masses are not permitted.
Thursday 23 July — Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr
The Church wears red for the Double feast of Saint Apollinaris, traditionally honoured as a disciple of Saint Peter and the first Bishop of Ravenna. His preaching brought many converts to the Faith but also repeated persecution, expulsion, imprisonment and torture. Though repeatedly driven from his flock, he returned to continue his apostolic labour until the wounds inflicted by his persecutors brought him the crown of martyrdom. The Mass Lætabitur justus in Domino celebrates the joy of the just man who has placed his refuge in God and whose apparent defeat becomes a victory for the Church. Saint Liborius, Bishop and Confessor, is commemorated, joining the peaceful pastoral endurance of a holy bishop to the bloodstained witness of the martyr. The Gloria is said with the Common Preface. Votive Masses are not permitted.
Friday 24 July — Vigil of Saint James the Apostle; in the United Kingdom, Saint Lewinna, Virgin and Martyr
The universal observance is the Simple Vigil of Saint James the Greater, for which violet vestments and the Mass Ego autem sicut oliva are appointed. The Vigil calls the faithful to spiritual preparation before the feast of the Apostle, reminding them that apostolic glory is reached through the chalice of suffering. Saint Christina, Virgin and Martyr, is commemorated, together with the general suffrage of the saints.
In the United Kingdom, Saint Lewinna, Virgin and Martyr, may instead be celebrated in red with the Mass Me exspectaverunt, while the Vigil of Saint James is commemorated. Saint Lewinna was an early Christian of Sussex, probably martyred around the late seventh century while much of the region remained pagan. Her relics were preserved near Seaford before being translated to Flanders in 1058. Her feast restores to the local Church the memory of a native woman who preferred fidelity to Christ over life itself.
Saturday 25 July — Saint James the Greater, Apostle
Saint James the Greater is honoured with a Double feast of the second class in red. The son of Zebedee and brother of Saint John, he was called from his fishing nets to become one of the Twelve. Together with Peter and John, he witnessed the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the Transfiguration and the Agony in Gethsemane. Once named a “son of thunder” because of his impetuous zeal, he was purified through discipleship and became the first of the Apostles to shed his blood, being slain by the sword under Herod Agrippa around the year 44. The Mass Mihi autem nimis honorati sunt honours the Apostles as the chosen friends of God. Saint Christopher, the ancient martyr and patron of travellers, is commemorated. The Gloria and Creed are said, with the Preface of the Apostles. Votive Masses are not permitted.
Sunday 26 July — Saint Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The week concludes in white with the Double feast of the second class of Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandmother of Our Lord according to the flesh. The Church venerates in her the hidden holiness of the household from which the Immaculate Virgin came forth. Saint Anne represents the sacred vocation of parents and grandparents, whose fidelity, prayer and instruction prepare souls for purposes they may never live to see fulfilled. The joyful Mass Gaudeamus omnes in Domino invites the whole Church to rejoice in the woman whom Divine Providence chose to nurture the Mother of God. The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated, whose Gospel presents Christ weeping over Jerusalem because it failed to recognise the time of its visitation. The Gloria and Creed are said, with the Preface of the Most Holy Trinity. Votive Masses are not permitted.
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