Calendar

January

1 New Year’s Day – The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
The Hymn Veni, Creator Spiritus is sung in various churches to invoke God’s blessing on the New Year.
6 The Epiphany – Legal holiday and Holy Day of Obligation, Masses held in all churches as on Sunday.
17 Feast of St. Anthony the Abbot – blessing of the animals at S. Eusebius on the Esquiline Hill (P.za Vittorio Emmanuele)
18 Beginning of the week of prayer for Christian Unity – Series of Masses in the Oriental rites of the Catholic Church held at Santa Maria in via Lata (via del Corso)
20 Feast of St. Sebastian – church at the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian, which hold his relics (via Appia Antica)
21 Feast of St. Agnes – Sant’ Agnese Fuori le Mura (via Nomentana 349), which hold her relics and Sant’ Agnese in Agone (P.za Navona), which is the site of her martyrdom
25 Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul – conclusion of the week of prayer for Christian unity, Papal mass at San Paolo Fuori le Mura (via Ostiense 186) with representatives of the other Christian churches in attendance
31 Feast of Saint John Bosco – main Salesian church of Rome, Sacro Cuore (Sacred Heart) on the north side of Stazione Termini

February

2 Feast of the Presentation of the Lord – Papal Mass at St. Peter’s for those in Consecrated Life
3 Feast of St. Blasé – Blessing of the throats
14 Feast of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, the Apostles of the Slavs – declared co-patron saints of Europe, along with St. Benedict by Pope John Paul II
22 Feast of St. Peter’s Chair – Solemn Mass and Vespers at St. Peter’s, special decorations of the Chair and the de Cambio Statue

March

Lent – see Station Churches list
9 Feast of St. Frances of Rome – opening of both the monastery of Tor de’ Specchi and St. Frances’ room on this day, St. Frances’ room (and not the monastery) is open on the Sundays of March; Santa Maria Nova (Forum), which hold his relics
19 Feast of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Father’s Day in Italy
25 Feast of the Annunciation – Papal Mass at St. Peter’s

April

Holy Week in Rome
The most sacred days of the Christian year are an especially beautiful time to come as a pilgrim to the capital city of Christianity. On Palm Sunday, most churches celebrate the traditional procession in honor of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the principle mass. St. Peter’s Square is traditionally decorated with whole olive trees in enormous pots, and the palm branches used in the procession are as long as 10 feet.

On Holy Thursday, when the Church commemorates the establishment of the Mass and the Priesthood, special chapels are decorated in all of the churches of the city for the altar of Repose of the Blessed Sacrament. Those who visit seven of these altars receive a plenary indulgence, but it is good to visit as many as possible to see the marvelous decorations, done in the finest Roman tradition. After the Good Friday evening services the churches remain without the Blessed Sacrament for a full day until the celebration of Mass on the late evening of Holy Saturday, when the Church begins the week long celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Feasts in April
23 Feast of St. George – Church of St. George in Velabro (via del Velabro 19), which holds relics of his skull
25 Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist – Church of St. Mark (P.za Venezia)
29 Feast of St. Catherine of Siena – The body of St. Catherine rests under the High Altar of the Dominican church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (P.za della Minerva, near the Pantheon). St. Catherine was declared co-patron saint of Italy, along with St. Francis of Assisi by Pope Pius XII in 1939.
30 Feast of Pope Pius V – The body of Pope St. Pius rests in the Sacrament Chapel of St. Mary Major (Esquiline, P.za Santa Maria Maggiore).

May

3 Feast of St. Philip and St. James the Apostles – Church of the Twelve Apostles, which was originally dedicated to Philip and James only, houses their relics
26 Feast of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Congregation of the Oratory – Chiesa Nuova, the Oratorian Church of Rome (P.za della Chiesa Nuova, near P.za Navona) contains his chapel with his body; also celebrated at Trinita de’ Pellegrini (near the Ponte Sisto). He is traditionally known as the third Apostle of Rome.

June

Pentecost and Corpus Christi (Non-Lenten Churches)
Pentecost is the conclusion of the great cycle of observances of the ancient church connected with the celebration of Easter. It is sometimes even referred to as “the birthday of the Church,” since it commemorates the beginning of the preaching of Christianity to the world by the Apostles. Those who attend the Solemn Mass of Pentecost at the Pantheon can witness a beautiful custom which was once nearly universal in the Middles Ages, the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is dramatically represented by throwing rose petals through the oculus of the Pantheon.

The first major devotion to be added to the Church year in the Middle Ages was that of the Feast of Corpus Christi, the body of Christ. This great solemnity is today kept in many places on the second Sunday after Pentecost, but the Vatican and the Pope still observe the traditional day of the preceding Thursday. On that day, the Pope celebrates the Solemn Mass at Cathedral, St. John in the Lateran, followed by a grand candlelight procession down the tree line via Merulana, accompanied by thousands of the oratory faithful, members of the pious confraternities, religious orders, seminaries, and clergy. The procession ends with Benediction of the Most Holy Sacraments in front of the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Feast in June
21 Feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga - The rooms of St. Aloysius at the church of St. Ignatius (P.za di Sant’ Ignazio, near P.za Navona) can be visited on this day.
24 Birth of St. John the Baptist, co-patron saint of Saint John in the Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome
26 Feast of St. John and St. Paul - celebrations in the church of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo (P.za Santi Giovanni e Paolo 13, Celian Hill), which rests on the ruins of their house.
29 Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul the Apostles, co-founders and co-patron saints of the Church of Rome – Papal Mass at St. Peter’s; there are also important celebrations at the church of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (via Ostiense 186).

July

11 Feast of St. Benedict - Patriarch of Western Monasticism; declared patron of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964.
16 Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - celebrated as the “Madonna de Noantri” in the Trastevere district.
31 Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) - important celebrations at Il Gesu (P.za del Gesu), where the body of St. Ignatius rests under the altar of the north transept and at the church of St. Ignatius (P.za di Sant’ Ignazio).

August

1 Feast of St. Peter in Chains and the Maccabee brothers - kept in the church of St. Peter in Chains (P.za San Pietro in Vincoli, on the Esquiline near the Colosseum).
5 Dedication of the Church of St. Mary Major - at the Solemn Mass at 10 am, and again at Vespers at 5 pm, the “Miracle of the Snow,” which according to legend led to the founding of this church, is reproduced by a shower of white flower petals dropped from the ceiling.
8 Feast of St. Dominick, founder of the Sacred Order of Preachers (Dominicans) - celebrated especially at the Dominican churches of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (P.za della Minerva, near the Pantheon) and at the Dominican generalate, Santa Sabina (Piazza Pietro d’Illiria 1) on the Aventine Hill. The room where St. Dominick stayed while in Rome can be visited.
10 Feast of St. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr (ca. 257 AD) - celebrations in the several major Roman churches dedicated to St. Laurence. At St. Laurence Outside the Walls (Piazzale del Verano 3), the evening mass is followed by a long procession through the Tiburtina quarter.
15 Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - a legal holiday in Italy, celebrations in all churches as on Sunday; the 10 am mass at St. Mary Major is especially solemn. The Pope celebrates mass at either St. Peter’s or the Castel Gandolfo, his summer residence.
24 St. Bartholomew the Apostle - celebration at the church that holds his relics, San Bartolomeo all’ Isola (Isola Tiberina 22).
27 Feast of St. Monica - The mother of St. Augustin, her relics are in his church, Sant’ Agostino (P.za Sant’ Agostino, behind P.za Navona).
28 Feast of St. Augustine - Sant’ Agostino (P.za Sant’ Agostino, behind P.za Navona)

September

3 Feast of St. Gregory the Great - His relics are in the altar dedicated to him in the south aisle of St. Peter’s, next to the entrance of the Sacristy
8 Feast of the Virginity of the Virgin Mary
13 Feast of St. John Chrysostom - a portion of his relics are in the altar of the Canon’s chapel, off the south aisle of St. Peter’s
14 Exaltation of the Cross - Relics of the True Cross are kept in the church known at Holy Cross “in Jerusalem” (P.zza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 12, near St. John in the Lateran).
26 Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian - popular Arabian healer saints, their church in the Forum, is now entered from the via dei Fori Imperiali
29 Feast of St. Michael the Archangel and all Angels
30 Feast of St. Jerome - the relics of St. Jerome are in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary Major (Esquiline).

October

4 Feast of St. Francis Assisi, founder of the Friars Minor (Franciscans) - declared co-patron saint of Italy by Pope Pius XII in 1939, along with St. Catherine of Siena
15 Feast of St. Theresa of Jesus, founder of the Discalced Order of Carmelites - a relic of St. Theresa is kept in the Carmelite church of Santa Maria della Scala in Trastevere (P.za della Scala 23).
28 Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles - the relics of Saints Simon and Jude rest in the main altar of the south transept of St. Peter’s

November

1 Feast of All Saints - a legal holiday in Italy, mass in all churches as on Sundays
9 Dedication of the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior (St. John in the Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome, Mother and Head of All Churches of the City and of the World)
10 Feast of Pope St. Leo the Great - the relics of Pope Leo are in the altar dedicated to him at the end of the south aisle of St. Peter’s
18 Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter’s in the Vatican and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls (via Ostiense 186).
22 Feast of St. Cecilia, patron saint of Musicians - celebrations at the church of St. Cecilia in Trastevere (P.za di Santa Cecilia).
23 Feast of St. Clement - celebrations at San Clemente (via di San Giovanni in Laterano).

December

3 Feast of St. Francis Xavier - the major relic of St. Francis is in the altar of the south transept of the Jesuit church, Il Gesu (P.za del Gesu).
8 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - legal holiday in Italy, mass in all churches as on Sunday, an especially big mass is at St. Mary Major (Esquiline).
25 Christmas
26 St. Stephen’s Day - a legal holiday in Italy
27 Feast of St. John the Evangelist, co-patron saint of Saint John in the Lateran, the Cathedral of Rome
31 New Year’s Eve and the Feast of Pope St. Sylvester - solemn singing of the Te Deum, the hymn of thanksgiving for all the blessings received from God over the year. The Pope generally presides of a Te Deum service at the church of Il Gesu (P.za del Gesu).