Catholic Calendar Guide

SundayVioletAdvent

Rank

A Sunday is the weekly celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection and often carries the strongest seasonal identity in the Church year.

Liturgical color

The liturgical color for this observance is Violet. Preparation, penance, and expectant prayer.

Season

Advent is the season of watchful preparation for the Nativity of the Lord and for Christ’s coming in glory.

Week in the year

4th week of Advent

Why this day matters

An Advent Sunday gathers the Church into watchful expectation and prayerful preparation for the coming of the Lord.

4th Sunday of Advent is observed on Sunday, December 20, 2026 in the Advent season. It is kept as a sunday with the liturgical color Violet. An Advent Sunday gathers the Church into watchful expectation and prayerful preparation for the coming of the Lord.

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 4th Sunday of Advent.

Daily readings

Daily readings for Sunday, December 20, 2026

Advent readings stress watchfulness, prophetic hope, and the long preparation for the coming of Christ.

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 Sunday, December 20, 2026

Mass type

Sunday Mass. Expect a fuller Sunday celebration shaped by the season, with the proper readings, homily, and the Profession of Faith in the usual Sunday pattern.

Obligation note

As a Sunday celebration, Mass participation is ordinarily obligatory for Catholics unless a lawful dispensation or serious reason applies.

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.

WeekdayViolet

Saturday, December 19, 2026

Saturday in Advent

Advent is the season of watchful preparation for the Nativity of the Lord and for Christ’s coming in glory. 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.

Advent•3rd week of Advent

WeekdayViolet

Monday, December 21, 2026

Monday in Advent

Advent•4th week of Advent