Our Lady of Guadalupe

Celebrations of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church are divided into three main categories: solemnities, feasts and memorials.

• Solemnity

A solemnity in the liturgical year is a feast day of the highest rank celebrating a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or specific saints. The observance begins with the vigil on the evening before the actual date of the feast.

• Feast

Feast days in the liturgical year are important and assigned for each and every canonized saint. The saints are remembered on their individual feast days with special mention, prayers, and possibly a scripture reading.

• Memorial

Next are memorials which commemorate the spiritual life of a saint or saints.  Memorials are marked in the general liturgical calendar.