commemoratio

Commemoratio is a Latin noun meaning a remembrance, recall, or act of commemorating. In English, it is most commonly translated as commemor ation or memorialization. The term appears in both general and specialized uses, often to denote the act of honoring, recalling, or marking the memory of a person, event, or idea.

In religious contexts, especially within Christian liturgy, commemoratio designates a formal remembrance of a saint, feast, or event within the celebration of the Mass or the Divine Office. It refers to a practice whereby a secondary or related remembrance is added to the principal celebration of the day. The exact pattern and significance of a commemoratio vary across liturgical rites and historical periods; some calendars include brief prayers or readings to honor the additional memory without overshadowing the primary feast.

Beyond liturgy, commemoratio is used more broadly to describe ceremonies, inscriptions, or activities that honor the memory of individuals or events. Public commemorations can take the form of ceremonies, monuments, anniversaries, or other memorial practices intended to preserve collective memory and highlight historical or cultural significance.

Etymology and usage are rooted in Latin, from com- “with” and memorare “to remember.” While most common in scholarly or liturgical contexts, the term also appears in general discussions of memory, memorials, and commemoration in history and culture. See also commemoration, memorial, and memorialization.