A Guide to the Traditional Roman Catholic Liturgical Calendar

The traditional Roman Catholic liturgical calendar was a tapestry of feasts, fasts, and solemnities, offering the faithful numerous opportunities to live the mysteries of Christ. Every day, every season was an invitation to sanctify time, drawing closer to Christ through prayer, penance, and praise. However, after the reforms of 1955 and the changes following Vatican II, much of the richness of this calendar was reduced or eliminated. This guide will explore the beauty of the pre-1955 calendar, highlighting what was lost during the liturgical revisions, with specific figures and examples drawn from the historical comparisons.

The Pre-1955 Calendar: Rich in Feasts and Octaves

Before the liturgical reforms, the calendar was filled with numerous feast days and special observances that provided a deep spiritual rhythm throughout the year. These feasts were not only commemorations but invitations to enter into the life of Christ, His Mother, and the saints in a profound way.

Feast Days

One of the most striking features of the pre-1955 calendar was the sheer number of feasts celebrated. For example:

• In the pre-1955 calendar, there were 156 major feasts, which included a combination of solemnities, feasts, and memorials for saints, mysteries of Christ, and Marian celebrations.
  Post-1955 changes: The revised calendar reduced this number significantly, with many saints’ feast days being downgraded to lesser observances or eliminated altogether. For instance, several regional feasts of saints, as well as lesser-known saints, were removed.

Octaves

Octaves were another hallmark of the traditional calendar. These eight-day celebrations extended the joy of major feasts, such as Easter and Christmas, and allowed the faithful time to reflect deeply on the feast’s significance.

• Before 1955, the Church observed 13 major octaves, including those of Easter, Christmas, Pentecost, and the Feasts of the Assumption, Corpus Christi, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
  Post-1955 changes: The number of octaves was reduced dramatically, with the octaves of Easter, Christmas, and Pentecost being retained but downgraded in their observance. Octaves like the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which once was celebrated with the same solemnity as Easter, were either eliminated or simplified.

Ranking of Feasts

The traditional calendar had a clear structure for the ranking of feasts, with various categories that indicated the solemnity and importance of each feast. The rankings included:

• Double Feasts (those of the highest importance, such as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception).
• Greater Feasts, which had significant importance but were not at the level of doubles.
• Simple Feasts, which were still important but of lesser rank.

Post-1955: The new system simplified these categories, with many feasts being demoted to optional memorials, or even eliminated entirely. For instance, the feast of St. Philomena—a beloved saint to many traditional Catholics—was removed from the general calendar.

The Loss of the Liturgical Year’s Depth

The Octave of Christmas

Before 1955, the octave of Christmas was a significant feature of the liturgical year. The celebration of the birth of Christ didn’t just end on December 25th, but continued for an entire eight days, culminating in the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on January 1.

• Pre-1955 calendar: The full octave was celebrated with its own unique prayers, Masses, and antiphons.
• Post-1955 calendar: The Feast of the Circumcision was abolished, and the focus shifted to the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, significantly changing the rhythm of the Christmas season.

The Octave of Easter

Similarly, the octave of Easter was once a major highlight of the Church’s liturgical life. Easter was celebrated for a full eight days, with daily Masses and special prayers, extending the joy and mystery of the Resurrection.

• Pre-1955 calendar: The Octave of Easter had its own significance and was considered as part of the Easter celebration, with its own specific prayers.
• Post-1955 calendar: The octave was maintained but with fewer specific observances, leading to a more subdued celebration of the Resurrection.

Specific Changes and What Was Lost

1. Elimination of Regional Feasts: Many feasts that were once observed regionally, such as those of local saints, were removed or greatly diminished. These saints were often revered by specific communities, and their feasts offered a special connection to local Catholic heritage.
2. Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: The feast, which used to have an octave and a significant place in the calendar, was simplified. While the feast was retained, its importance and the liturgical celebrations surrounding it were reduced, removing much of its power as a central feast for devotion to the Heart of Christ.
3. Fewer Solemnities and Feasts of Our Lady: The pre-1955 calendar had many feasts dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, including specific feasts for various aspects of her life such as Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of the Rosary, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These feasts were central to the Catholic experience and provided numerous opportunities for Marian devotion. The post-1955 reforms reduced the number of these feasts or moved them to different dates, making them less prominent in the liturgical year.
4. Simplification of the Mass and Devotions: With the changes of the 1955 reforms, the Mass itself became simplified. The rich prayers and collects of the pre-1955 calendar, particularly for feast days, were reduced, and the focus was shifted towards simplifying the liturgy. This affected the entire rhythm of the Church’s worship, with fewer opportunities for deep reflection and participation in the liturgy’s spiritual richness.

Rediscovering the Beauty of the Traditional Calendar

While the post-1955 calendar offers certain practical benefits, the richness of the pre-1955 liturgical calendar invites us to rediscover the spiritual depth of our faith. The lost feasts, the octaves, and the daily rhythm of the Church’s year formed a system that not only sanctified time but deeply connected the faithful to Christ’s life, His saints, and the mysteries of salvation.

We’re passionate about encouraging Catholics from every walk of life to rediscover the traditional Roman Catholic calendar and the spiritual treasures it holds.

Embrace the richness of the past and allow it to deepen your faith and devotion as you walk through the sacred seasons of the liturgical year. May you be inspired to bring the full beauty of these traditions into your life, nurturing both your spiritual journey and your family’s.