Q: There are 6 “Feasts of the Lord”:

• Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

• Baptism of the Lord

• Presentation of the Lord

• Transfiguration

• Exaltation of the Holy Cross

• Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (It’s a feast of the Lord because it is dedicated to the Most Holy Savior)

Apparently, Feasts of the Lord (#5) are ranked above OT Sundays (#6). This makes me think the Feasts need to have at least the same level of ceremonies and music as OT Sundays. 

Questions: How we should observe Feasts of the Lord? Why don’t these Feasts normally have 1st Vespers if they’re ranked higher than OT Sundays (which have 1st Vespers)? Why is the Creed not recited?

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A: I’ve covered this in my book Sacred Times, and you should have a copy of it in the library. Look up the section on Feasts of the Lord. In short, when they fall on weekdays, they are still feasts, so they do not have 1st vespers, nor the Creed. However, the USCCB has determined that on weekdays they do call for three readings. Not all conferences of bishops agree, but that’s the local interpretation. The reason it ranks higher than Ordinary Time Sundays is to explain the extra deference they get when they fall on a Sunday. That’s when 1st vespers and the creed kick in.

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