Marriages may take place during Advent, but couples should be mindful of the joyful but moderate nature of the season.

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1 LITURGICAL GUIDELINES ADVENT/CHRISTMAS FOR THE DIOCESE OF WHEELING-CHARLESTON ADVENT The word Advent is taken from the Latin Advenire which translates as to arrive or come to. Advent is a time when we recall Christ s first coming, which we celebrate at Christmas and to remind ourselves of his return at the end of time. It is important to avoid giving into the temptation to rush into the Christmas season without taking time to celebrate Advent as the Church intends. Violet is the color of Advent. It is a different shade than used for Lent in that it is has a bluish hue. Keep in mind that it is NOT blue. The décor of the worship space should be beautiful but should not anticipate the full joy of Christmas until it actually arrives. Some things to keep in mind during Advent: The Gloria is omitted except on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) Although Advent is not a penitential season, Communal Reconciliation services are encouraged to assist the faithful in their preparation for the Solemnity of Christmas. Please use the Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution. Marriages may take place during Advent, but couples should be mindful of the joyful but moderate nature of the season. Funeral Masses may be celebrated during Advent; white or violet vestments may be used. Funeral Masses are NOT permitted on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8). Many parishes set up an Advent wreath with three violet candles and one rose candle. If the wreath is placed in the sanctuary, it is never to interfere with the celebration of the liturgy or obscure the altar, ambo, or presider s chair. The blessing can be found in the Book of Blessings #1509ff (chapter 47). The blessing takes place only once on the first Sunday of Advent and is recommended at the end of the Universal Prayer. The Book of Blessings notes that during the subsequent weeks of Advent, the candles are lit before the liturgy begins. 1

2 First Sunday of Advent December 2, 2018 Monday of the First December 3, 2018 Tuesday of the First December 4, 2018 Wednesday of the First December 5, 2018 Thursday of the First December 6, 2018 Friday of the First Week of Advent December 7, 2018 Saturday of the First December 8, 2018 Second Sunday of Advent December 9, 2018 Monday of the Second December 10, 2018 Tuesday of the Second December 11, 2018 Wednesday of the Second December 12, 2018 Thursday of the Second December 13, 2018 The Church begins a new liturgical year and Lectionary Cycles: Sundays Year C; Weekdays Year I Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier [white] Optional Memorial of Saint John Damascene, priest and doctor [white] Optional Memorial of Saint Nicholas, bishop [white] The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston encourages parishes to celebrate a Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception held in the evening. Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary Holy Day of Obligation Gloria is sung and Creed is said (not blue) Parishes are encouraged to schedule a Mass for the Immaculate Conception in the morning or early afternoon. FUNERAL MASSES MAY NOT BE CELEBRATED The anticipatory Saturday evening Mass must be for the SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Preface I of Advent is to be used. Optional Memorial of Saint Damasus I, pope [white] Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Gloria is sung but Creed is not said. (not blue) Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr 2

3 Friday of the Second December 14, 2018 Saturday of the Second December 15, 2018 Third Sunday of Advent December 16, 2018 Monday of the Third December 17, 2018 Tuesday of the Third December 18, 2018 Wednesday of the Third December 19, 2018 Thursday of the Third December 20, 2018 Friday of the Third Week of Advent December 21, 2018 Saturday of the Third December 22, 2018 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor Gaudete Sunday Vestment color: Rose or Violet Preface II of Advent is to be used O Antiphons begin at Evening Prayer Las Posadas begin Preface II for Advent from the Roman Missal is used today Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Canisus, priest and doctor Preface II for Advent from the Roman Missal is used. 3

4 CHRISTMAS Christmas is not just one day, rather it is a season. The Church celebrates Christmas from the evening of December 24 to January 13. The environment and hymnody should reflect this understanding. White is the official color of the Church. However, gold or silver-colored vestments may also be worn. This also applies to the environment of the sanctuary. Some things to keep in mind during the Christmas Season: The Nativity scene may be blessed on the vigil of Christmas either during Mass, a Liturgy of the Word service, or Evening Prayer. The Blessing of the Crèche is in Chapter 48 in the Book of Blessings. It is preferred that the Nativity scene NOT be placed in the sanctuary itself, rather in a side chapel area, narthex, etc. If it must be placed in the sanctuary, please ensure that the main altar is unobstructed and approachable from all sides. It should never overshadow the primary symbols: altar, ambo, presider s chair. Have a plan in place where decorations, especially live flowers and plants, remain throughout the Christmas Season (until the Baptism of the Lord). The Gloria is sung. At the Nicene Creed during the Christmas Masses, the ministers and assembly kneel at the words, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. If Eucharistic Prayer I (Roman Canon) is selected, the insert for Christmas is used during the Octave. During the Octave of Christmas, December 25, 2018 January 1, 2019, ritual Masses are allowed with the permission of the Archbishop. Funeral Masses may be celebrated. / Christmas Eve December 24, 2018 Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord December 25, 2018 Second Day in the Octave of Christmas December 26, 2018 In the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Vigil Masses for the Nativity of the Lord may not begin before 4:30 PM. Holy Day of Obligation Mass during the Night (Midnight Mass), Mass at Dawn and Mass during the Day. The Proclamation of the Nativity of the Lord may be sung or proclaimed before the beginning of Christmas Midnight Mass. Feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr Vestment color: Red 4

5 Third Day in the Octave of Christmas December 27, 2018 Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs December 28, 2018 Fifth day in the Octave of Christmas December 29, 2018 Feast of the Holy Family December 30, 2018 Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas December 31, 2018 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God / Octave Day of Christmas January 1, 2019 January 2, 2019 January 3, 2019 January 4, 2019 January 5, 2019 Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord January 6, 2019 January 7, 2019 January 8, 2019 January 9, 2019 January 10, 2019 January 11, 2019 Feast of Saint John, apostle and evangelist Vestment color: Red Optional memorial of St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr Holy Day of Obligation Vestment: White (not blue) Gloria is sung and Creed is said Memorial of Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church Optional memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious Memorial of St. John Neumann, bishop The Roman Missal, third edition includes a vigil for the Solemnity of the Epiphany. These prayers are to be used at the Saturday evening vigil Masses. The Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts is optional and may be chanted after the Gospel or after the Prayer after Communion. Optional Memorial of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, priest 5

6 January 12, 2019 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord January 13, 2019 Christmas season ends today with Evening Prayer Consider replacing the Penitential Act with a Sprinkling Rite 6