Catholic Calendar Guide

SolemnityWhiteOrdinary Time

Rank

A solemnity is one of the highest-ranking celebrations in the Roman calendar and marks a mystery of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or a saint of major significance.

Liturgical color

The liturgical color for this observance is White. Purity, joy, and major celebrations of the Lord and saints who are not martyrs.

Season

Ordinary Time traces the public life and teaching of Christ in ordered weeks outside the major penitential and festal seasons.

Week in the year

5th week in Ordinary Time

Why this day matters

This solemnity honors the birth of John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the way for the Lord.

Nativity of Saint John the Baptist is observed on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in the Ordinary Time season. It is kept as a solemnity with the liturgical color White. This solemnity honors the birth of John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the way for the Lord. Saints: Saint John the Baptist.

Saints connected with this date

Saint John the Baptist

Plan local worship

Need to find a parish for this celebration?

Use the parish finder to search your area and confirm local Mass times, confession schedules, and parish details for Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.

Daily readings

Daily readings for Wednesday, June 24, 2026

The readings for Saint John the Baptist usually highlight prophetic vocation, joyful expectation, and preparation for the Lord’s coming.

What to expect: Expect a First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading, Gospel acclamation, and Gospel for the day.

Use the linked official readings page for the approved lectionary texts and any local options or variations.

Browse readings archive

Mass guide

Mass guide for Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Mass type

Solemnity Mass. Solemnities are among the Church’s highest celebrations and usually carry a more festive liturgical form, often including the Gloria and normally the Creed.

Obligation note

This is a solemnity in the universal calendar, but whether Mass attendance is obligatory can depend on the local bishops’ conference and country.

What to expect

You can usually expect a First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading, Gospel, homily, and the fuller Sunday-or-solemnity shape of Mass.

How to follow the Mass

Opening rites

Mass begins with the entrance, greeting, penitential act, and opening prayer. On more festive days, the Gloria may also be included.

Liturgy of the Word

Listen for the First Reading, Psalm, Second Reading, Gospel acclamation, Gospel, homily, and usually the Profession of Faith and Universal Prayer.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

The gifts are prepared, the Eucharistic Prayer is prayed, and the congregation joins in the Holy, Holy, Holy, the memorial acclamation, and the Great Amen.

Communion and dismissal

After the Lord’s Prayer, sign of peace, and Lamb of God, Communion is distributed. Mass ends with the final blessing and dismissal.

Postures and responses

Stand, sit, and kneel according to local custom and parish direction. Join the spoken and sung responses as you are able; posture details can vary somewhat by country and diocese.

Local music, ceremonial detail, posture, and holy day obligation can vary somewhat by country, diocese, and parish. Use this guide as a practical orientation, then follow the parish’s actual celebration.

Scope and caution

This guide is built around the universal Roman Catholic calendar for practical reference. Local episcopal conferences, dioceses, and ritual traditions may observe some dates differently.

WeekdayGreen

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time traces the public life and teaching of Christ in ordered weeks outside the major penitential and festal seasons. This date is presented here as part of the unfolding prayer of the Church year, even when no major universal observance is highlighted in the MVP dataset.

Ordinary Time•5th week in Ordinary Time

WeekdayGreen

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Thursday in Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time•5th week in Ordinary Time