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| St Patrick's Day on March 15! |
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St Patrick’s Day ‘to be moved’ said the headline in an “exclusive” newspaper report. Fr Patrick Jones explains the unique arrangement for the feast in 2008 here. Why? Since the days of Holy Week have precedence the solemnity of St Patrick must be transferred. The usual rules would place the feast on the next available day, in this case, this would be after Holy Week and Easter Week. The feast would then be on Tuesday, 1 April. But in order to keep close to the traditional date, 17 March, Saturday, 15 March was chosen. Thus, the liturgical observance of St Patrick, in the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours, will take place on 15 March 2008. What happened in the past? We have to go back to 1913 for the last occasion when 17 March was Monday of Holy Week. The feast was transferred to Tuesday, 1 April, except in the diocese of Clogher which observed the feast of its patron, St Macartan on that day, with St Patrick on the next available day, Thursday 3 April. All this happens in 2008 because of the early Easter. For those who are not too mesmerised by dates, Easter on 23 March 2008 is the second earliest possible date. This happened last in 1913 and will not happen again until 2160. The earliest date, 22 March, would place 17 March as the Tuesday of Holy Week. This happened last in 1818 and will occur again in 2285. However, 1940 may be in the memory of some. In that year, Easter was 24 March and so 17 March was Palm Sunday. The feast of St Patrick was transferred to Wednesday, 3 April (except, again, in Clogher which observed the feast of St Macartan, with the feast of St Patrick on 4 April. The previous coincidence of the palm and shamrock was 1799 and the next time will be 2391! Could we not have special arrangements? In a sense we have made a special arrangement for this unique coincidence. But it ultimately is about the order of precedence that we give the days of our liturgical year. If we place the Easter, Holy Week and Easter Week above all other days, even that of our national patron, then certain feasts will be transferred or not celebrated. Did Rome approve? There was no lobbying nor did Rome insist on 15 March Yes. But there was no need to lobby nor was there any insistence by Rome that 15 March would be the feast day. What about the feast of St Joseph? 19 March is the solemnity of St Joseph. In 2008, that date will be Wednesday of Holy Week. Rome decided that the feast should be observed on the general calendar on Saturday, 15 March but approved the previous day, Friday 14 March as the date for the Irish calendar. Will 15 March 2008 be a holyday of obligation? No. The general rule is that when a holyday of obligation is transferred then it is not a holyday of obligation. It remains, of course, a solemn feast, best celebrated through taking part in the Mass on the day. Readers may remember that 8 December 2002 was the Second Sunday of Advent. It had precedence over the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception which was transferred to the next day. That Monday was not a holyday of obligation. The following year, Monday 8 December was the feast and a holyday of obligation. This need not be a matter of confusion if we remember, firstly, that there is an order of precedence in the days of the liturgical year and, secondly, when a holyday of obligation is transferred, the obligation ceases. Are there ecumenical considerations? Yes. The feast is a day honoured by all Churches. The decision about the feast in 2008 was communicated to all the Churches immediately after the Bishops’ meeting in March 2007. Two interesting points. The Church of Ireland in its norms for the liturgical year notes in its Book of Common Prayer (2004): “When Saint Patrick’s Day falls on … the Monday … of Holy Week it is observed on the previous Saturday.” Eastern Christians in 2008 will only have begun Lent as, according to the Julian Calendar, the date of Easter will be 27 April 2008. What should we do on 15 March? The feast of St Patrick begins with First Evening Prayer on Friday evening. Parishes will have to arrange a schedule of Masses, perhaps with a Vigil Mass and, in most parishes, one or two morning Masses on Saturday. It may be that there are less Masses but great care should be taken in preparing and celebrating for the solemnity. It is a unique opportunity to celebrate our patron on a day that is not a holyday of obligation. And taking part in Mass is the best way to celebrate. The feast ends before Evening Prayer. Mass and Evening Prayer on Saturday evening are of Palm Sunday. What should we do on 17 March? The day will be a public holiday. Many will go the St Patrick’s Day parade and to various sporting events, traditional on this date. But many will also attend Mass because it Monday of Holy Week. What about weddings and funerals on 15 March? Weddings and funerals may take place but the readings of the feast should be used. That is the meaning of the rubric in the Ordo: No other celebrations, not even funeral Masses, are permitted today. What about 17 March? There will be the usual Holy Week schedule of daily Mass. Funeral Masses are permitted. Holy Week isn’t usually a week for weddings. Other countries? The feast of St Patrick ranks as a solemnity, the highest grade of feast, in Ireland. In other places, ranking as a memorial, it will not be celebrated but many Irish people –and all who claim to be Irish on that day- will attend Mass on that weekend and the commemoration of our patron will be part of that celebration, even if the Mass is for a day of Lent, Palm Sunday or Holy Week. |
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