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Religious calendar
The
Lutheran Church has, from the time of the Reformation, continued the
remembrance of saints . The theological basis for this remembrance may be best illustrated in the words of the
Epistle to the Hebrews 12:1.
[a] [
non-primary source needed ] The
Apology of the Augsburg Confession states that the remembrance of the saints has three parts.
[b] [
non-primary source needed ]
As a result, the Lutheran reformers retained a robust calendar of saints to be commemorated throughout the year. In addition to figures found in the
Bible , early Christians such as
Saint Lawrence and
Martin of Tours were retained as saints on the calendar, as were extra-Biblical commemorations like the
Assumption of Mary . Following the Reformation, most especially in the latter half of the twentieth century, many names were added to the calendar, both new and restored pre-Reformation commemorations.
The Calendar found below is a listing which aims to give a sense[
original research? ] of the primary annual festivals and events that are celebrated liturgically by various Lutheran Churches in the English-speaking world. The calendars of the
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in their present forms are listed below, as found in the 2006
Lutheran Service Book of the
LCMS , and the 2006
Evangelical Lutheran Worship of the
ELCA . In addition to these, some historic observances not currently found on the aforementioned calendars but appearing in earlier Lutheran uses are also provided.[
original research? ]
While extensive, the Lutheran sanctoral calendar is not presently as strictly ranked as that of the
Roman Catholic Church . Principal festivals are marked with BOLD CAPS and lesser festivals with bold text . If applicable, the country where a particular observed is also noted,[
clarification needed ] if it is not commonly observed on that date in North America. For individuals, the date given is generally the date of their death or "heavenly birthday." The
liturgical color for
vestments and
paraments is noted as follows: White (W), Red (R) or Violet (V). Commemorations specific to the LCMS, ELCA, or an earlier source are noted following each entry. Commemorations and festivals held in common are not annotated.
January
Gregory of Nazianzus
1
Circumcision and Name of Jesus (LCMS) Name of Jesus (ELCA) (W)
2
Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe , pastor, renewer of the church, 1872 (W)
3
4
5
6
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD (W)
7
8
9
10
St. Basil the Great , Bishop of Caesarea, 379;
Gregory of Nazianzus , Bishop of Constantinople, c. 389;
Gregory , Bishop of Nyssa, c. 385 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
11
12
13
Octave of the Epiphany - The Baptism of Our Lord (W) - historic, now commonly observed on the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany
14
Eivind Berggrav , Norwegian Lutheran bishop (Commemoration) W - ELCA
15
Martin Luther King Jr. ,
renewer of society , martyr, 1968 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
16
17
Anthony of Egypt , renewer of the church, c. 356 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Pachomius , renewer of the church, 346 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
18
Confession of Peter (W)
19
Henry , Bishop of Uppsala, missionary to Finland, martyr, 1156 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
20
Sebastian, Martyr (R) - Historic
Sarah , matriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
21
Agnes, Virgin and Martyr (R)
22
23
24
Saint Timothy , pastor (Lesser Festival) W - LCMS
Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe
25
Conversion of Paul the Apostle (W)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Ends - ELCA
26
Timothy ,
Titus , and
Silas , missionaries (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Saint Titus, pastor (Lesser Festival) W - LCMS
27
John Chrysostom , Bishop of Constantinople, 407 (W) – LCMS
28
Thomas Aquinas , teacher, 1274 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
29
30
31
February
Martin Luther's face and hands cast at his death.
14
Cyril , monk, 869;
Methodius , bishop, 885; missionaries to the Slavs (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Valentine , martyr, 270 (Commemoration) R – LCMS
15
Philemon and
Onesimus (Commemoration) W – LCMS
16
Philipp Melanchthon , confessor, 1560 (Commemoration) R – LCMS
17
18
Martin Luther , doctor and confessor, renewer of the church, 1546 (Commemoration) W
19
20
21
22
23
Polycarp , Bishop of Smyrna, martyr 156 (Commemoration) R
24
Matthias, Apostle (R) – LCMS (25th February in leap years)
25
Elizabeth Fedde , deaconess, 1921 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
26
27
28
29
March
Simon Ushakov,
The Last Supper
1
George Herbert , priest, hymnwriter, 1633 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
2
John Wesley , 1791;
Charles Wesley , 1788; priests, renewers of the church (Commemoration) W – ELCA
3
4
5
6
7
Perpetua and Felicity and companions , martyrs at Carthage, 202 (R)
8
9
10
Harriet Tubman , 1913;
Sojourner Truth , 1883; renewers of society (Commemoration) W – ELCA
11
12
Gregory the Great , Bishop of Rome, 604 (W)
13
14
15
Saint Joseph
16
17
Patrick , bishop, missionary to Ireland, 461 (Commemoration) W
18
19
Joseph, Guardian of Jesus (W)
20
21
Thomas Cranmer , Archbishop of Canterbury, martyr, 1556 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
22
Jonathan Edwards , teacher, missionary to American Indians, 1758 (Commemoration) W - ELCA
23
24
Oscar Arnulfo Romero , Bishop of El Salvador, martyr, 1980 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
25
Annunciation of Our Lord (W)
26
27
28
29
Hans Nielsen Hauge , renewer of the church, 1824 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
30
31
John Donne , priest, poet, 1631 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Joseph , patriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
April
Michelangelo
1
Amalie Sieveking , philanthropist and social activist – (Germany)
2
3
4
Benedict the African , confessor, 1589 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
5
6
Albrecht Dürer , 1528;
Lucas Cranach , 1553; artists (Commemoration) W
7
8
9
Dietrich Bonhoeffer , theologian, martyr, 1945 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
10
Mikael Agricola , Bishop of Turku, 1557 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Olaus Petri , priest, 1552;
Laurentius Petri , Archbishop of Uppsala, 1573; renewers of the church (Commemoration) W – ELCA
20
Johannes Bugenhagen , pastor, 1558 (Commemoration) – LCMS
21
Anselm , Archbishop of Canterbury, theologian, 1109 (Commemoration) W
Catherine of Siena
May
1
Philip
and James, Apostles (R)
2
Athanasius , Bishop of Alexandria, 373 (Commemoration) W
3
4
Monica , mother of Augustine, 387 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
5
Frederick the Wise , Christian ruler, 1525 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
6
7
Carl F. W. Walther , pastor, theologian, 1887 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
8
Julian of Norwich , renewer of the Church, c. 1416 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
9
Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf , renewer of the church, hymnwriter, 1760 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Job , patriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
Sts. Constantine and Helen
10
11 Cyril, 869 and Methodius, 885, missionaries to the Slavs (Commemoration) W – LCMS
12
13
14
Matthias , apostle (Lesser Festival) R – ELCA
15
16
17
18
Erik , King of Sweden, martyr, 1160 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
19
20
21
Helena , mother of Constantine, c. 330 (W)
22
23
24
Nicolaus Copernicus , 1543;
Leonhard Euler , 1783; scientists (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Esther , matriarch, (Commemoration) W – LCMS
25
Bede , theologian, 735 (Commemoration) R – LCMS
26
27
John Calvin , renewer of the church, 1564 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
28
29
Juraj Tranovský , hymnwriter, 1637 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
30
31
Visit of Mary to Elizabeth -- minor festival (W) - modern date
June
1
Justin , martyr at Rome, c. 165 (Commemoration) R
2
3
Martyrs of Uganda , 1886 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
John XXIII , Bishop of Rome, 1963 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
4
5
Boniface , Archbishop of Mainz, missionary to Germany, martyr, 754 (Commemoration) R
6
7
Seattle , chief of the Duwamish Confederacy, 1866 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
[3]
8
9
Columba , 597;
Aidan , 651;
Bede , 735; teachers, renewers of the church (Commemoration) W – ELCA
10
11
Barnabas, Apostle (R)
12
First Ecumenical Council , 325 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
13
14
Basil the Great , Bishop of Caesarea, 379;
Gregory of Nazianzus , Bishop of Constantinople, c. 389;
Gregory , Bishop of Nyssa, c. 385 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Macrina , theologian, c. 379 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Elisha , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
15
Lucas Cranach the Elder,
Philipp Melanchthon
16
17
18
19
20
21
Onesimos Nesib , translator, evangelist, 1931 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
22
23
24
John the Baptist (W)
25 Presentation of the
Augsburg Confession , 1530 (Commemoration) W
26
John and Paul, Martyrs - LCMS
Jeremiah , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
27
Cyril , Bishop of Alexandria, 444 (Commemoration) W
28
Irenaeus , Bishop of Lyons, c. 202 (Commemoration) W
29
Peter
and Paul, Apostles (R)
30 Commemoration of
Paul the Apostle (R) - Historic
July
Benedict of Nursia
1
Catherine Winkworth , 1878;
John Mason Neale , 1866; hymn translators (Commemoration) W – ELCA
2
3
Thomas , apostle (Lesser Festival) R – ELCA
4
5
6
Jan Hus , martyr, 1415 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
Isaiah , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
7
8
9
10
11
Benedict of Nursia , Abbot of Monte Cassino, c. 540 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
12
Nathan Söderblom , Archbishop of Uppsala, 1931 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
13
14
15
The Division of the Holy Apostles (R) - Historic
16
Ruth , matriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
17
Bartolomé de Las Casas , missionary to the Indies, 1566 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
[3]
18
19
Elias Gottlob Haussmann,
Johann Sebastian Bach
20
Elijah , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
21
Ezekiel , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
22
Mary Magdalene , (W)
23
Birgitta of Sweden , renewer of the church, 1373 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
24
25
James, Apostle (R)
26
27
28
Johann Sebastian Bach , 1750 W
29
Saint Martha, Virgin (W)
Mary ,
Martha , and
Lazarus of Bethany (Commemoration) W
Olaf , King of Norway, martyr, 1030 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
30
Robert Barnes (martyr) , confessor and martyr (Commemoration) R – LCMS
31
Joseph of Arimathea (Commemoration) W – LCMS
August
Florence Nightingale
1
2
3
Joanna ,
Mary , and
Salome , myrrh-bearing women (Commemoration) W – LCMS
4
5
6
Transfiguration of Our Lord (W) - More commonly observed on the last Sunday after Epiphany
7
8
Dominic , priest, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), 1221 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
9
10
Lawrence , deacon, martyr 258 (Commemoration) R
11
Clare , Abbess of San Damiano, renewer of the Church, 1253 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
12
13
Florence Nightingale , 1910;
Clara Maass , 1901; renewers of society (Commemoration) W – ELCA
14
Maximilian Kolbe , 1941;
Kaj Munk , 1944; martyrs (Commemoration) R – ELCA
15
Assumption of Mary (W) (modern:
Mary, Mother of Our Lord )<
[4]
Mary , Mother of Our Lord
16
Isaac , patriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
17
Johann Gerhard , theologian, 1637 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
18
19
Bernard , Abbot of Clairvaux, hymnwriter, theologian 1153 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
20 Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, hymnwriter, theologian, 1153 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Samuel , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
21
22
23
24
Bartholomew, Apostle (R)
25
26
27
Monica , mother of Augustine 387 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
28
Augustine, Bishop and Doctor , 430 (W)
29
The Martyrdom of John the Baptist (R) – LCMS
30
31
September
1
Joshua , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
2
Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig , bishop, renewer of the church, 1872 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Hannah , matriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
3
Gregory the Great , Bishop of Rome, 604 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
4
Moses , prophet (Commemoration)) R – LCMS
5
Zechariah , prophet
Elizabeth , matriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
6
7
8
Nativity of Mary (W) - LCMS (19th century)
9
Peter Claver , priest, missionary to Colombia, 1654 (Commemoration) – ELCA
10
11
12
13
John Chrysostom , Bishop of Constantinople, 407 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
14
Holy Cross Day (R)
15
16
Cyprian , Bishop of Carthage, martyr, c. 258 (Commemoration) R
17
Hildegard , Abbess of Bingen, 1179 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
18
Dag Hammarskjöld , renewer of society, 1961 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
Carlo Crivelli,
Francis of Assisi
October
1
2
3
4
Francis of Assisi , renewer of the church, 1226 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
5
6
William Tyndale , translator, martyr, 1536 (Commemoration) R – ELCA
7
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg , pastor in North America, 1787 (Commemoration) W
8
9
Abraham , patriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
10
Massie L. Kennard , renewer of the church, 1996 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
11
Phillip , deacon (Commemoration) W – LCMS
12
13
14
15
Teresa of Ávila , teacher, renewer of the church, 1582 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
16
17
Ignatius , Bishop of Antioch, martyr, c. 115 (Commemoration) R
18
Luke, Evangelist (R)
19
20
21
22
23
James of Jerusalem , brother of Jesus and martyr, c. 62 (Lesser Festival) R
Gianlorenzo Bernini The Ecstasy of
St. Teresa
November
Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg
8
Johann von Staupitz , priest, 1524 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
9
Martin Chemnitz , pastor and confessor, 1586 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
10
11
Martin of Tours , Bishop, 397 (W)
12
13
14
Emperor Justinian , confessor, emperor of New Rome, 565 (Commemoration) W – LCMS
15
16
17
Elizabeth , renewer of society, 1231 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
18
19
Elizabeth of Hungary , 1231 (W) – LCMS
20
21
22
23
Clement , bishop of Rome, c. 100 (Commemoration) W
24
Justus Falckner , 1723;
Jehu Jones , 1852;
William Passavant , 1894; pastors in North America (Commemoration) W – ELCA
25
Catherine of Alexandria , Martyr (R) - historic
26
27
28
29
Noah , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
30
Andrew, Apostle (R)
December
1
2
Dorothy Kazel ,
Ita Ford ,
Maura Clarke and
Jean Donovan ,
martyrs of El Salvador , 1980 (Commemoration) R - ELCA
3
Francis Xavier , missionary to Asia, 1552 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
4
John of Damascus , theologian and hymnwriter, c. 749 (Commemoration) W
5
6
Nicholas , bishop of Myra, c. 342 (Commemoration) W
7
Ambrose , bishop of Milan, 397 (Commemoration) W
8
9
10
11
12
Domenico di Pace Beccafumi, Saint Lucy
13
Lucy , martyr, 304 (Commemoration) R
14
John of the Cross , renewer of the church, 1591 (Commemoration) W – ELCA
15
16
17
Daniel and the
Three Young Men , prophets, (Commemoration) R – LCMS
18
19
Adam and
Eve , patriarch and matriarch (Commemoration) W – LCMS
20
Katharina von Bora Luther , renewer of the church, 1552 (Commemoration) W
21
Thomas, Apostle (R) – LCMS
22
23
24
VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD (W)
25
NATIVITY OF OUR LORD (W)
26
Stephen, Deacon and Martyr (R)
27
John, Apostle and Evangelist (W)
28
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs (R)
29
Thomas of Canterbury , Martyr (R) - Historic
David , prophet (Commemoration) R – LCMS
30
31
See also
Notes
^ " "Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
[1]
^ "The first is thanksgiving. For we ought to give thanks to God because He has shown examples of mercy; because He has shown that He wishes to save men; because He has given teachers or other gifts to the Church. And these gifts, as they are the greatest, should be amplified, and the saints themselves should be praised, who have faithfully used these gifts, just as Christ praises faithful business-men (Matt. 25:21, 23). The second service is the strengthening of our faith; when we see the denial forgiven Peter, we also are encouraged to believe the more that grace truly superabounds over sin (Rom. 5:20). The third honor is the imitation, first, of faith, then of the other virtues, which every one should imitate according to his calling."
[2]
References
^ Hebrews 12:1
^ Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXI.4-6
^
a
b
"The Church Year" (PDF) . Renewing Worship . January 2006. Archived from
the original (PDF) on September 8, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2020 .
^ Evangelical Lutheran Worship Leaders Desk Edition (8th (2019) Printing ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress. 2006. p. 58.
ISBN
978-0-8066-5620-5 .
Bibliography
Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (1978). Lutheran Book of Worship . Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Press.
ISBN
9780800633301 .
Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (1978). Lutheran Book of Worship: Minister's Desk Edition . Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Press.
ISBN
978-9991472546 .
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Evangelical Lutheran Worship - Final Draft . Augsburg Fortress Press, 2006.
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (1982). Lutheran Worship . St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House. pp. 8–9.
ISBN
978-0570010197 .
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (2006). Lutheran Service Book . St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House. pp. x–xiii.
ISBN
978-0-7586-1217-5 .
Philip H. Pfatteicher (1980). Festivals and Commemorations: Handbook to the Calendar in Lutheran Book of Worship . Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Press.
ISBN
978-0806617572 .