Solemnity
In the liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite, a solemnity is a feast day of the highest rank celebrating a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, his mother Mary, his legal father Joseph, or another important saint. The observance begins with the vigil on the evening before the actual date of the feast. Unlike feast days of the rank of feast or those of the rank of memorial, solemnities replace the celebration of Sundays outside Advent, Lent, and Easter.
The word comes from postclassical Latin sollemnitas, meaning a solemnity, festival, celebration of a day.
Ranking
The solemnities of Nativity of the Lord, the Epiphany, the Ascension, and Pentecost are outranked only by the Paschal Triduum.Other solemnities inscribed in the General Roman Calendar give way also to the following celebrations:
Solemnities inscribed in particular calendars yield not only to these, but also to the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.
With the exceptions noted in the table below regarding the solemnities of Saint Joseph and the Annunciation of the Lord, a solemnity that falls on the same day as a celebration of higher rank is transferred to the next day not occupied by a solemnity, a Sunday or a feast.
Among solemnities inscribed in the General Roman Calendar, those of the Lord have precedence over those of the Blessed Virgin and these latter over solemnities of other saints. Thus if, for instance, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus coincides with that of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist or that of Saints Peter and Paul, it is these that are transferred to the next free day.
Among solemnities inscribed in particular calendars the order of precedence is:
- The solemnity of the principal patron of the place, city or state
- The solemnity of the dedication or anniversary of the dedication of one's own church
- The solemnity of the title of one's own church
- The solemnity of either the title or the founder of a religious institute
List and dates
The solemnities inscribed in the General Roman Calendar and which are therefore observed throughout the Latin Church are indicated in the following list.| Date | Solemnity | Notes about date |
| 1 January | The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Mother of God | Octave of Christmas, Circumcision of the Lord, New Year's Day |
| 6 January | Epiphany of the Lord | Where not a holy day of obligation, transferred to the Sunday between 2 and 8 January, inclusive |
| 19 March | Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary | If the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, where observed as a holy day of obligation, coincides with Palm Sunday, it is, by exception to the general rule, anticipated to Saturday, 18 March; where not observed as a holy day of obligation, the episcopal conference may transfer it to a date outside Lent. |
| 25 March | Annunciation of the Lord | If the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord falls on any day of Holy Week, it is always transferred to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter, rather than, in accordance with the general rule, to the next day not occupied by a celebration with at least the rank of feast |
| March to April | Institution of the Eucharist | Begins the Paschal Triduum, celebrates the Last Supper which established the Eucharist. |
| Resurrection of the Lord (Easter) | Concludes the Paschal Triduum that commemorates the resurrection of Christ. See Computus for date computation. Begins Octave of Easter, eight consecutive days celebrated as one continuous solemnity, ending 29 March to 2 May. See also Resurrection of Jesus. | |
| Thursday after the Sixth Sunday of Easter | Ascension of the Lord | If not a holy day of obligation, transferred to replace the Seventh Sunday of Easter |
| 50th day of Eastertide | Pentecost | ; always on a Sunday |
| Sunday after Pentecost | Trinity Sunday | |
| Thursday after Trinity Sunday | Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) | If not a holy day of obligation, transferred to the following Sunday. |
| Friday | Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | |
| 24 June | Nativity of Saint John the Baptist | |
| 29 June | Saints Peter and Paul | |
| 15 August | Assumption of Mary | |
| 1 November | All Saints' Day | |
| Last Sunday before Advent | Solemnity of Our Lord [Jesus Christ, King of the Universe|Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe] | Replaces 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary | |
| 25 December | Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) | everywhere a holy day of obligation; see also Nativity of Jesus |
Proper solemnities
There are also solemnities not inscribed in the General Roman Calendar, which are observed in particular places, regions, churches or religious institutes. The optional memorial of Saint Patrick on 17 March is a solemnity in Ireland, the memorial of Saint Josemaría Escrivá on 26 June is a solemnity within the prelature of Opus Dei, and the optional memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 16 July is a solemnity for the Carmelites.A partial list of proper solemnities follows below:
Observance
Even if it is a weekday or within Advent and Lenten season, if the day is a Solemnity, then the Gloria is said or sung, as well as the saying of the Creed at Mass, and there are two scriptural readings, not one, before the Gospel. Also, there will sometimes be processional and recessional hymns, and use of incense.Some but not all solemnities are also holy days of obligation, on which, as on Sundays, Catholics are required to attend Mass and to avoid work and business that hinder divine worship or suitable relaxation of mind and body. All holy days of obligation have the rank of solemnity at least at local level, though not necessarily holding that rank in the General Roman Calendar. With the exception of the solemnities of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Annunciation of the Lord and the Birth of John the Baptist, all the solemnities inscribed in the General Roman Calendar are mentioned as holy days of obligation in of the Code of Canon Law, but are not necessarily all observed in a particular country.
When a solemnity falls on a Friday, the obligation to abstain from meat or some other food as determined by the episcopal conference does not apply.