Sacred Congregation for Rites, 1883 – elevation of the feast of guardian angels + votive office of angels (ASS 16)

Sacred Congregation of Rites DecreeOn July 5, 1883, approved by Pope Leo XIII, the Sacred Congregation of Rites elevated the feast of the Holy Angels Custodians (October 2) from a “double minor” to a “double major” in the universal liturgy. It also established the Votive Office of the Angels for the second feria (Monday), the first systematic liturgical magisterial organization of weekly angelic worship.Historical ContextOn July 28, 1882, Saint Leo XIII issued Apostolic Letters “Cum Ecclesia” amending the General Rubric of the Roman Breviary (Tit. X De Translatione Festorum), restricting the translation of double minor and semi-double feasts. This reform left “sedes liberae” (free places) in the calendar that needed to be filled. On July 5, 1883, the Sacred Congregation of Rites published a complementary decree regularizing:– The elevation of the feast of the Holy Angels Custodians (October 2) and Saint Paul (June 30) to double major status – The introduction of the Votive Office of the Angels for the second feria – Other liturgical dispositions regarding Saints’ feastsOriginal Latin Text (ASS 16, pp. 47-48)“By Apostolic Letters in the form of a Brief, issued on the 28th day of July, of the previous year, His Holiness Our Lord Leo, the Pope, confirming a specific decree issued by the Sacred Congregation of Rites, which had added several Saints and even Blessed to the Universal Calendar of the Church, as well as to the particular Calendar of the City, leaving free seats in both Calendars to be filled with new Offices, ordered the General Rubric of the Roman Breviary (Tit. X De Translatione Festorum) to be amended…I. A general Indult is granted to all Chapters and Ecclesiastical Communities of any kind, and to individuals of both sexes in the clergy, to fulfill Votive Offices throughout the year in place of Ferial Offices, except on Ash Wednesday, during the entire time of Passion, and during the Sacred Advent, from December 17 to 24 inclusive… “

The annual Votive Masses correspond approximately to the Votive Masses of the Roman Missal and are designated for each day of the week: on Tuesday about the Angels, on Wednesday about the Holy Apostles (in Rome, about Saints Peter and Paul), on Thursday about Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patron of the Catholic Church, on Friday about the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, on Saturday about the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

II. The Feast of the Celebration of Saint Paul the Apostle on June 30 and of the Custodial Angels on October 2 are raised from the Double Minor Rite to the Double Major Rite for the whole Church.

Portuguese Translation

«By the Apostolic Letters in the form of a Brief issued on July 28 of the previous year, His Holiness Pope LEON XIII, confirming the sentence of the Sacred Congregation for Rites, which he had constituted, after having added some Offices of Saints and also Blessed to the Universal Church Calendar and to the Particular Calendar of the City [of Rome], in order that there should be free seats in both Calendars for the introduction of new Offices, decided to modify the General Rubric of the Roman Breviary Tit. X De Translatione Festorum…

I. General Indult is granted to all Chapters and Ecclesiastical Communities, and to each of the clergy, to fulfill Votive Offices during the year in place of the Ferial Offices, except on Ash Wednesday, during the whole time of Lent, and from Advent Sunday (December 17) to Christmas (December 24) inclusive…

These annual Votive Offices, in almost correspondence with the Votive Masses established in the Roman Missal, are assigned for each day of the week, that is: on Feria II [Tuesday] about the Angels, Feria III about the Holy Apostles (in Rome however about Saints Peter and Paul), Feria IV about Saint Joseph Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patron of the Catholic Church, Feria V about the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, Feria VI about the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Saturday about the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

II. That the Feast of the Celebration of Saint Paul the Apostle on June 30, and of the Custodial Angels on October 2, be raised from the Double Minor Rite to the Double Major Rite for the whole Church universal.»

Votive Office of the Angels for Feria II

The 1883 decree established a weekly structure for the Votive Offices:

Day	Votive Office
Feria II (Tuesday)	De Angelis (about the Angels)
Feria III (Wednesday)	About the Holy Apostles
Feria IV (Thursday)	About Saint Joseph
Feria V (Friday)	About the Most Holy Sacrament

Feria VI (Friday)	On the Passion of the Lord
Saturday	On the Immaculate Conception

This organization revealed that each day of the week has its own spiritual dimension. Monday, as the day of the angels, persisted until the reform of the Liturgical Calendar after Vatican II (1969).

Elevation of the feast of the Angel Guardians

The elevation of “Duplex minor” to “Duplex maior” signifies:

• Greater liturgical solemnity: Own Mass, preceding Vespers, Matins with 9 lessons (instead of 3)
• Greater frequency: The feast is not omitted when it falls on another saint’s feast day
• Greater pastoral emphasis: Parishes should celebrate with greater solemnity
• Indulgences: Plenary indulgence possible for faithful participating (cf. Enchiridion Indulgentiarum)

Legacy

The 1883 decree is part of Pope Leo XIII’s Marian-Angelic program, which culminated in:

• September 1, 1883: Encyclical Supremi apostolatus officio on the Rosary – see post
• July 5, 1883: SCR Decree on the elevation of the Angel Guardians + Votive Office of the Angels
• October 13, 1884: Supposed vision of the Devil during private Mass
• 1886: Prayer to Saint Michael
• 1890: Exorcismus in Satanam

Further reading

Angels of the Guard | Saint Michael the Archangel | Leo XIII Prayer Saint Michael 1886 | Exorcismus in Satanam 1890

Check out our comprehensive guide to Catholic Angelology.