Lesser Feasts and Fasts is a supplement to the

liturgical calendar The liturgical year, also called the church year, Christian year, ecclesiastical calendar, or kalendar, consists of the cycle of liturgical days and seasons that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be obs ...

utilized by the Episcopal Church in the United States. It acts as a supplement to the liturgical calander 1979 Book of Common Prayer by providing additional feasts and commemorations of saints and notable figures in Christian history, early

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

church, and the

Anglican Communion The Anglican Communion is a Christian Full communion, communion consisting of the Church of England and other autocephalous national and regional churches in full communion. The archbishop of Canterbury in England acts as a focus of unity, ...

Overview

''Lesser Feasts and Fasts'' includes biographies, collects, and scriptural readings for each saint or notable figure recognized by the Episcopal Church. These commemorations are optional, allowing congregations to celebrate them at their discretion. The calendar aims to enrich the spiritual life of the church by providing examples of Christian faithfulness and devotion.

History

The practice of commemorating saints and notable figures has ancient roots in Christianity. The Episcopal Church continues this tradition by including a diverse group of individuals in its calendar. The official list of saints is found in ''Lesser Feasts and Fasts''. The 2024 edition is the most recent version, reflecting the church's recognition of both modern saints like

Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...

and ancient martyrs like Perpetua and her Companions.

Structure

Each entry in ''Lesser Feasts and Fasts'' provides a biography, a collect (a short prayer), and suggested readings from the

Bible The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writt ...

. These elements can be used in personal prayer or in public worship services. The calendar is organized by date, with most saints commemorated on the anniversary of their death, symbolizing the beginning of their eternal life with God.

Editions

''Lesser Feasts and Fasts'' is periodically updated to include new commemorations and to reflect changes approved by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

2024 Updates

In 2024, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church met in Louisville and approved updates to ''Lesser Feasts and Fasts''. These updates included new commemorations and modifications to existing scripture readings.

Changes to Commemorations

Several new individuals were added to the calendar, expanding the range of recognized figures.

Revisions to Readings

Scripture readings for various feast days were adjusted to align with contemporary liturgical practices.

Usage

The collects and readings from ''Lesser Feasts and Fasts'' are used in daily offices, Eucharistic services, and other liturgical settings.{{Cite book , title=Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs & Practices , author1=Scott Gunn , author2=Melodie Woerman , year=2018 , publisher=Forward Movement , page=251

References

Episcopal Church (United States) Christian liturgical texts