Calendar Suggestions 

from one part of the Church to another, are acceptable as long as they have been approved by competent 

Church authority. 

The Circumcision of Christ (December 2) 

    This Holy Day could also be called the Naming Day of Jesus Christ, for it was on the 8th day inclusive from 

birth that Jewish boys were both circumcised and given their name. A similar tradition for newborn girls gave 

them their name on the 15th day (see `The Naming Day of the Virgin Mary' below). This day must be 

celebrated on the 8th day inclusive from Christmas, the Octave of Christmas, which is Dec. 2 in this revised 

liturgical calendar. 

Flight to Egypt (February 29) 

    According to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, the Holy Family fled to Egypt beginning on February 

29.

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 This event is described in Sacred Scripture (Mt 2:13 15). Since this date of February 29 only appears in 

the revised calendar every 4 years (with some exceptions), the remembrance of this event should be kept in the 

liturgical calendar only in leap years. And there is a good reason for keeping this celebration only in leap years. 

    This holy day can help to seal the unity of the One Christian Church in following one and the same calendar 

system. Formerly, different Churches followed different rules for leap years (Julian, Gregorian). When the 

Church is One, the calendar must be one. Placing this holy day on February 29, only in leap years, will be an 

outward sign of our inward unity. This holy day can show that all Christians are following the same calendar 

system. 

    The leap year system for the one calendar must be the system used in the Gregorian calendar. This system 

for determining leap years will maintain the Spring Equinox of Jerusalem on the correct date. Those faithful 

Christians in the East, who have long followed the Julian system for leap years, must accept change. 

Christians in the West will also be required to accept many changes. The revised calendar, though, is not the 

same as the Gregorian calendar, because the date of the Spring Equinox of Jerusalem is to be placed on the 

Julian calendar date for the Spring Equinox during the Ministry of Christ. The revised calendar should not be 

called Julian or Gregorian, but rather, Christian. 

The Return from Egypt (September) 

    The Return of the Holy Family from their exile in Egypt is described in Sacred Scripture (Mt 2:19 21). This 

event should be remembered in the Church's liturgical calendar. The event actually occurred in the fall, most 

likely in  September (see chapter 6). This celebration could be placed on any appropriate day within the 

liturgical calendar, but most appropriately on some day in September. I have no suggestion as to which day in 

September. 

The Presentation of the Lord (January 3) 

    On the 40th day from the Birth of Christ, the Virgin Mary presented her new born male child at the Temple 

in Jerusalem (Lk 2:22 24), as the Jewish Law required (Lev 12). The celebration of this event is called The 

Presentation of the Lord. Since Christ was actually born very early in the day on November 25, the 40th day 

from His Birth is January 3 (see chapter 6). The liturgical celebration of this event should be placed on the 40th 

day inclusive from the true date of Christ's Birth. 

The Finding in the Temple 

    The Gospel of Luke describes an event when Jesus, at the age of 12 years, was lost to Joseph and Mary for 

three days. On the third day, He was found in the Temple (Lk 2:41 51). This event foreshadowed Jesus' death 

and Resurrection. By God's Providence, Jesus was left behind by Joseph and Mary on April 7, and found by 

them on April 9, the same calendar dates as Jesus' death and Resurrection (see chapters 2 and 6). 

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