FEASTS

As a Minor Basilica, Immaculate Conception celebrates a number of special indulgenced "Basilican Feast Days." On those days, as well as the other feasts scattered through the Church Year, an extra depth of solemnity is added by incorporating music into the Ordinary Form daily Masses, which are normally offered without music beyond the priest's occasional intonation of the Mass parts. As several members of the Schola regularly attend daily Mass, we have undertaken that task.

Music for the feast is typically a capella, comprising an entrance chant, an offertory chant, and a communion chant followed by a short song. The chants and songs may be in English or Latin, with the Mass Propers most often taken from the official song-book of the Mass, the Roman Gradual.

GENERAL LITURGICAL CALENDAR FOR THE MINOR BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Not including Sundays and Feasts which always fall on Sundays

08 Dec: The Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation)

12 Dec: Our Lady of Guadalupe

25 Dec: Christmas (Holy Day of Obligation)

26 Dec: St. Stephen

27 Dec: St. John

28 Dec: Holy Innocents

01 Jan: Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation)

08 Jan: Our Lady of Prompt Succor (Solemnity in Louisiana)

10 Jan: Elevation to Minor Basilica (Indulgenced Basilican Feast Day)

22 Jan (23 if 22=Sunday): Special Day of Prayer for the End of Abortion

25 Jan: Conversion of St. Paul

02 Feb: Candlemas/Presentation

22 Feb: Chair of St. Peter (Indulgenced Basilican Feast Day)

Ash Wednesday *        

13 Mar: Anniversary of the Election of the Current Pontiff (Pope Francis) (Indulgenced Basilican Feast Day)

19 Mar: St. Joseph (Solemnity)

25 Mar: Annunciation (Solemnity)

25 Apr: St. Mark

03 May: Sts. Philip and James

13 May: Our Lady of Fatima (Indulgenced Basilican Feast Day)

14 May: St. Matthias

31 May: Visitation

Mon after Pentecost: Our Lady, Mother of the Church (memorial)

Fri after 2nd Sun after Pentecost: Sacred Heart (Solemnity)

24 Jun: Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Solemnity)

29 Jun: Sts. Peter and Paul (Solemnity)

03 Jul: St. Thomas

25 Jul: St. James

29 Jul: Establishment of the Diocese of Natchitoches (Indulgenced Basilican Feast Day)

05 Aug: Dedication of St. Mary Major (Our Lady of Snows) (Indulgenced Basilican Feast Day)

06 Aug: Transfiguration

10 Aug: St. Lawrence

15 Aug: The Assumption of Mary (Holy Day of Obligation)

22 Aug: Queenship of Mary (memorial)
24 Aug: St. Bartholomew

08 Sep: Nativity of the BVM

14 Sep: Exaltation of the Holy Cross

15 Sep: Our Lady of Sorrows (memorial – requested by Fr. Seiler)

21 Sep: St. Matthew

29 Sep: St. Michael and the Archangels

04 Oct: St. Francis of Assisi (Indulgenced Basilican Feast Day)

07 Oct: Our Lady of the Rosary (memorial)

18 Oct: St. Luke

28 Oct: Sts. Simon and Jude

01 Nov: All Saints’ Day (Holy Day of Obligation)

02 Nov: All Souls’ Day

09 Nov: Dedication of Lateran Basilica

30 Nov: St. Andrew

* Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but it is celebrated as if it were.