Pope Francis Adds Memorials of 6 Saints to the Roman Calendar Including St. Hildegard - FULL TEXT Decrees

Pope Francis adds memorials of 6 Saints to Roman Calendar

Pope Francis inserted four new liturgical Memorials into the Roman Calendar: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus will be celebrated together, while Gregory of Narek, John of Avila, and Hildegard of Bingen will have their own optional memorials.

Now the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus will be celebrated in the Roman Calendar on 29 July.

This means that all liturgical books around the world will be updated.

The Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments released two decrees, approved by Pope Francis, on January, 2, 2021 (see Full Text below).

CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS

DECREE

on the Inscription of the Celebrations

of Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor of the Church,

Saint John De Avila, Priest and Doctor of the Church

and Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church,

in the General Roman Calendar

The combination of holiness with knowledge in the experience of the mystery of Jesus Christ is inextricably linked to the mystery of the Church. This link between holiness and understanding things divine and also human shines out in a very special way in those who have been given the title “Doctor of the Church”. Indeed, the wisdom that characterises these men and women is not solely theirs, since by becoming disciples of divine Wisdom they have themselves become teachers of wisdom for the entire ecclesial community. It is in this light that the holy “Doctors” are inscribed in the General Roman Calendar.

Therefore, considering the recent declarations of the title of Doctor of the Church conferred upon Saints of great importance of the West and the East, the Supreme Pontiff Pope FRANCIS has decreed the following celebrations to be inscribed in the General Roman Calendar with the rank of Optional Memorial:

Saint Gregory of Narek, Abbot and Doctor of the Church, on 27 February,

Saint John De Avila, Priest and Doctor of the Church, on 10 May,

Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, on 17 September.

These new Memorials are to be inscribed in all Calendars and Liturgical Books for the celebration of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours; the liturgical texts to be adopted, attached to the present decree, are to be translated, approved and, after confirmation by this Dicastery, published by the Episcopal Conferences.

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

From the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 25 January 2021, on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle.

Robert Card. Sarah

Prefect

X Arthur Roche

Archbishop Secretary

DECREE

on the Celebration of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

in the General Roman Calendar

In the household of Bethany the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and for this reason the Gospel of John states that he loved them. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death.

The traditional uncertainty of the Latin Church about the identity of Mary - the Magdalene to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection, the sister of Martha, the sinner whose sins the Lord had forgiven - which resulted in the inclusion of Martha alone on 29 July in the Roman Calendar, has been resolved in recent studies and times, as attested by the current Roman Martyrology, which also commemorates Mary and Lazarus on that day. Moreover, in some particular calendars the three siblings are already celebrated together.

Therefore, the Supreme Pontiff Pope FRANCIS, considering the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to him attentively, in believing that he is the resurrection and the life, and accepting the proposal of this Dicastery, has decreed that 29 July be designated in the General Roman Calendar as the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

The Memorial must therefore appear under this title in all Calendars and Liturgical Books for the celebration of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours; the variations and additions to be adopted in the liturgical texts, attached to the present decree, must be translated, approved and, after confirmation by this Dicastery, published by the Episcopal Conferences.

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

From the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 26 January 2021, Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops.

Robert Card. Sarah

Prefect

X Arthur Roche

Source: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/02/02/0065/00136.html

and 

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2021/02/02/0066/00135.html