Catholic Calendar Guide

FeastRedChristmas

Rank

A feast is a major celebration, often dedicated to the Lord, the Apostles, or saints of wide importance in the life of the Church.

Liturgical color

The liturgical color for this observance is Red. Martyrdom, the Holy Spirit, and the Passion of the Lord.

Season

The Christmas season celebrates the Incarnation of the Lord from Christmas through the Baptism of the Lord.

Week in the year

Christmas season

Why this day matters

The Holy Innocents are remembered as child martyrs whose witness is joined to the mystery of Christ’s coming into the world.

Holy Innocents is observed on Monday, December 28, 2026 in the Christmas season. It is kept as a feast with the liturgical color Red. The Holy Innocents are remembered as child martyrs whose witness is joined to the mystery of Christ’s coming into the world. Saints: The Holy Innocents.

Saints connected with this date

The Holy Innocents

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 Holy Innocents.

Daily readings

Daily readings for Monday, December 28, 2026

Christmas readings dwell on the mystery of the Incarnation, divine sonship, and the manifestation of the Lord.

What to expect: Expect a First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel acclamation, and Gospel, with local or optional variations in some cases.

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 Monday, December 28, 2026

Mass type

Feast Mass. Feasts are more festive than ordinary weekdays and often use proper prayers and readings that bring the mystery or saint of the day into clearer focus.

Obligation note

This day is ordinarily observed within the weekday Mass cycle unless local custom, parish schedule, or local law gives it a different pastoral weight.

What to expect

You can usually expect a simpler weekday form of Mass, with Scripture readings, a homily where customary, and seasonal or proper prayers.

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 Scripture readings appointed for the day, the Psalm, Gospel acclamation, Gospel, and the homily where it is given.

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.

FeastWhite

Sunday, December 27, 2026

Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

Saint John is celebrated as apostle, evangelist, and theological witness to the mystery of Christ.

Christmas•Christmas season•Saint John

WeekdayWhite

Tuesday, December 29, 2026

Tuesday in Christmas

The Christmas season celebrates the Incarnation of the Lord from Christmas through the Baptism of the Lord. 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.

Christmas•Christmas season