As many of my regular readers may know, I spent 2006 transcribing and posting daily prayers from Żywoty Świętych – a Polish language lives of the saints. That book was published in 1904 by J. Steinbrenner, Catholic Book Publishers. Its author was the Rev. J.A. Łukaszkiewicz.

For 2007 I will be posting the PNCC Calendar of Saints on a daily basis. I will also be transcribing Polish Language hymns from the Śpiewniczek Kościelny on occasion.

The full title of the book is:

Śpiewniczek —“ zawierający Pieśni Kościelne z Melodyami – Dla Użytku Wiernych (Hymn Book —“ inclusive of the hymns and melodies of the Church for the use of the faithful)

The book was assembled by the Rev. Jan Siedlecki and was published in Poland in 1901, imported and sold by Regulski-Polaski, Inc., 21 Murray St., New York, NY.

As to the PNCC Calendar of the Saints and the Sanctoral Cycle:

The calendar was developed from a review of the many thousands of saints that are commonly recognized by Catholic bodies throughout the world. The Church has not included every recognized saint, but rather has provided a selection of at least three commemorations for each day.

The clergy of the Church are not required to observe commemorations, but are encouraged to do so to add variety to Eucharistic worship and as an expression of union with the rest of the Catholic Church.

Saints were included based on:

• Commemorations that are universally and traditionally honored on certain days.
• Individuals who by their lives and work reflect universally accepted Catholic teaching.
• Saints reflected in the early PNCC work, “33”
• Polish saints
• Bishops Hodur and Padewski

It should be noted that general rules of precedence apply to the Sanctoral Cycle:

Solemnities
of our Lord
of the Blessed Mother
of St. Joseph, Guardian of our Lord
of All Saints
of St. John the Baptist
of St. Stephen, Proto-martyr

Feasts
of Holy Angels
of Apostles
of Evangelists
of All Souls

Memorials
of Old Testament Saints
of Abbots
of Bishops
of Confessors
of Doctors
of Deacons
of Kings
of Martyrs
of Priests
of Virgins
of Widows
of Queens
of First Prime Bishop Francis Hodur
of Bishop Joseph Padewski, PNCC Bishop and Martyr

As to Sundays of the year, there are Sundays of the First Class, Second Class, and Ordinary Sundays

Sundays of the First Class (these Sundays give place to no other feast except as noted):

• the First Sunday of Advent
• the four Sundays of Lent (The Institution of the PNCC falls on the second Sunday in March and takes precedence over the first four Sundays of Lent, but not Passion Sunday)
• Passion Sunday
• Palm Sunday
• Easter
• Second Sunday of Easter (Low Sunday)
• Pentecost

Sundays of the Second Class (these Sundays give place only to Solemnities)

• Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Advent
• Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima Sundays

Ordinary Sundays (these Sundays give place to Solemnities and Feasts