Liturgical calendar

GIRM # 372:  Ritual Masses are connected to the celebration of certain Sacraments or Sacramentals. They are prohibited on Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, on solemnities, on the days within the Octave of Easter, on the Commemoration of All the Faithful departed (All Souls’ Day), on Ash Wednesday, and during Holy Week, taking due account of the norms given in the ritual books or in the Masses themselves.

GIRM # 374: In cases of serious need or pastoral advantage, at the direction of the diocesan Bishop or with his permission, an appropriate Mass may be celebrated on any day except solemnities, the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, days within the Octave of Easter, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), Ash Wednesday, and Holy Week.

GIRM # 380: Among the Masses for the Dead, the Funeral Mass holds first place. It may be celebrated on any day except for solemnities that are holy days of obligation, Holy Thursday, the Easter Triduum, and the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, with due regard also for all the other requirements of the norm of the law.

#34 of the second edition of Ordo Celebrandi Matrimonium provides that when marriage is celebrated within Mass, the ritual Mass (“Wedding Mass,”) is used with white vestments or those of a festive color. (Unofficial translation): “But on the days listed in nos. 1-4 of the table of liturgical days ([cf. General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar], the Mass of the day is used with its proper readings; the nuptial blessing is given during the Mass and, as circumstances suggest, the proper formulary of the solemn blessing is used. During the season of Christmas and in Ordinary Time, when a marriage is celebrated within Sunday Mass in which the parish community participates, the Mass of the Sunday is used.

“The liturgy of the word designed for the celebration of marriage has great impact on catechesis about the sacrament itself and about inculcating marital duties. When the ritual Mass for Marriage, (“Wedding Mass,”) is not used, one of the readings may be taken from the texts provided for the celebration of marriage.”