(Latin: octavus, eighth)
Consists of a feast-day and the seven days following it. Only certain feasts, and those of higher rank, are placed by the Church on her calendar with the form of an octave. As the memory of the feast is more or less kept up during its octave, it is plain that the purpose in arranging a feast with an octave is to honor the mystery of religion or saint venerated on the feast itself. The Octaves of Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, and Corpus Christi are privileged, i.e.,either the Mass or Office, or at least a commemoration is repeated each day, with precedence over the Feasts.
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