Sacred Times

Paul Turner is pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Missouri, and director of the Office of Divine Worship for the Diocese of Kansas City––St. Joseph. He holds a doctorate in sacred theology from Sant’ Anselmo in Rome. He is a former president of the North American Academy of Liturgy and a member of Societas Liturgica and the Catholic Academy of Liturgy. He is the author of numerous books published by Liturgical Press and a contributor to Give Us This Day. Most recently, he is the recipient of four awards from the 2025 Catholic Media Association Book Awards, including First Place for Author of the Year. Visit his website at https://paulturner.org.

• ContentsAbbreviations   xi1. The General Roman Calendar   1The Liturgical Year   1The Table of Liturgical Days   2Renewed Vision   3The Revisers   3Terms: “Proper,” “Ordinary,” “Commons,” “Time,” “Season,” and “Saint”   42. Revising the Proper of Time   7Paschal Mystery at the Center   7Proper of Time   8Sunday   9Sunday Mass   10Sunday Liturgy of the Hours   11Saturday Evening Mass   13Consecutive Solemnities   14No Fixed Date for Easter   17Rogation and Ember Days   193. Revising the Proper of Saints   23Mary   23The Ranking of Saints’ Days   24Celebrating Solemnities at Mass   25 Celebrating Solemnities at the Liturgy of the Hours   26Celebrating Solemnities of Obligation   28Celebrating Days without Rank   30Celebrating Feasts   30Celebrating Feasts of the Lord   31Celebrating Memorials   32Celebrating Optional Memorials   34Celebrating Commemorations   35Celebrating Weekdays   36Celebrating Ritual Masses on Weekdays   37Celebrating Masses for Various Needs and Occasions on Weekdays   38Celebrating Votive Masses on Weekdays   39External Solemnities  40Celebrating Masses for the Dead on Weekdays   40Reducing the Number of Saints on Weekdays   41Devotional Days on Weekdays   42Adding Saints   44Commons of Saints by Category  45Determining a Saint’s Day  47The Roman Martyrology  47The Anniversary of Dedication   48The Title and Patrons of Churches   49Images of Saints in Churches   50The Litany of the Saints   514. Proper of Time   55Advent   55Christmas Time   60Lent   72The Sacred Paschal Triduum   85Easter Time   92Specific Sundays of Easter   96Ordinary Time   1045. Proper of Saints   119January   119February   130March   138April   144May   151June   160July   169August   180September   193October   204November   214December   2276. The Table of Liturgical Days   237Introduction   237The Ranks   237Conclusion   245Appendix I: Alphabetical Listing of Days in the Proper of Time   247Appendix II: Table of Rubrics Governing Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, and Masses for the Dead   259Index   263

"The revision of the liturgical calendar was key to the reform of the liturgy following the Second Vatican Council not only in providing a foundation for the work on the Missal, Lectionary, and Liturgy of the Hours but also in expressing a renewed theology of time centered on the Paschal Mystery. Fr. Paul Turner, with his customary diligence, is a knowledgeable guide to the work of revision. This, however, is not just a work of historical research it also provides a guide to the current liturgical year, calendar, and days of special prayer highlighting the origins and history of each celebration which will be a helpful resource to all who plan and prepare liturgy."Martin Foster, Director, Liturgy Office, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales