Know, dear Brothers and Sisters that,
as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
so by leave of God's mercy we announce to you also
the joy of his Resurrection, who is our Saviour.
On the twenty-second day of February will fall Ash
Wednesday,
and the beginning of the fast of the most sacred Lenten
season.
On the eight day of April you will celebrate with joy Easter Day,
the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the twentieth day of May
will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On the twenty-seventh day of May, the feast of Pentecost.
On the tenth day of June, the feast of
the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).
On the second day of December, the First Sunday of the Advent
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to whom is honour and glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
*****
PROCLAMATION OF FEASTS - One of the special traditions
connected with Epiphany was the publication on January 6 of the annual letter
of the patriarch of Alexandria announcing the date of Easter for the current
year (epistola festalis). The scholars of Alexandria were considered
most competent to make the difficult computations and observations necessary to
determine this date, and thus the whole East followed their findings, which
were sent to all churches by the patriarch. In the sixth century, the fourth
Council of Orleans (541) ordered the same procedure in the West. During the
Middle Ages the dates of other movable feasts used to be added to the date of
Easter and be solemnly read to the people on Epiphany Day. This ancient custom
is still observed in some cathedrals as a traditional solemnity on January 6 at
the end of pontifical Mass.
