2 files changed, 73 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/internal/caldata/caldata.go b/internal/caldata/caldata.go
index 9c17035..4e54f1f 100644
--- a/internal/caldata/caldata.go
+++ b/internal/caldata/caldata.go
@@ -77,9 +77,34 @@ func Tridentine() calendar.Layer {
 	return l
 }
 
+// sanctoraleDir, when set, holds an optional external universal sanctorale that
+// overrides the embedded one (of.ini for OF, ef.ini for EF). Set once at startup
+// via SetSanctoraleDir; empty means "use the embedded calendar".
+var sanctoraleDir string
+
+// SetSanctoraleDir points caldata at the dir holding an optional external
+// universal sanctorale (<dir>/of.ini, <dir>/ef.ini). Empty disables it.
+func SetSanctoraleDir(dir string) { sanctoraleDir = dir }
+
 // Base returns the universal base layer for a form: the 1962 calendar for
-// "old" (EF), the General Roman Calendar otherwise (OF).
+// "old" (EF), the General Roman Calendar otherwise (OF). If an external
+// sanctorale file is present and parses, it REPLACES the embedded calendar for
+// that form -- so the saints and ranks can be updated without a rebuild. A
+// missing or malformed external file falls back to the embedded default, which
+// therefore always keeps the tool self-contained and correct out of the box.
 func Base(form string) calendar.Layer {
+	if sanctoraleDir != "" {
+		name := "of.ini"
+		if form == "old" {
+			name = "ef.ini"
+		}
+		if data, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(sanctoraleDir, name)); err == nil {
+			if l, err := ParseLayer(data); err == nil {
+				return l
+			}
+			// malformed external file: fall through to the embedded default
+		}
+	}
 	if form == "old" {
 		return Tridentine()
 	}
diff --git a/internal/caldata/sanctorale_test.go b/internal/caldata/sanctorale_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..610aa33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/caldata/sanctorale_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package caldata
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestBaseSanctoraleOverride(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "of.ini"), []byte(
+		"[layer]\nid = test-override\ntype = universal\n\n"+
+			"[test-saint]\ndate = 06-15\nrank = feast\nname.en = Test Saint\n"), 0o644)
+	SetSanctoraleDir(dir)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { SetSanctoraleDir("") })
+
+	// External file present and valid -> it REPLACES the embedded OF calendar.
+	l := Base("new")
+	if l.ID != "test-override" {
+		t.Fatalf("external of.ini not used: layer id = %q", l.ID)
+	}
+	if _, ok := l.Cels["test-saint"]; !ok || len(l.Cels) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("external calendar not loaded verbatim: %d cels", len(l.Cels))
+	}
+
+	// EF form has no external file here -> embedded Tridentine still used.
+	if ef := Base("old"); ef.ID == "test-override" {
+		t.Fatal("EF wrongly took the OF override")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBaseFallsBackToEmbedded(t *testing.T) {
+	// No dir set -> embedded default.
+	SetSanctoraleDir("")
+	if l := Base("new"); l.ID != "universal" || len(l.Cels) < 100 {
+		t.Fatalf("no-override should give the embedded calendar, got id=%q n=%d", l.ID, len(l.Cels))
+	}
+
+	// A malformed external file must not break computation -> embedded fallback.
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "of.ini"), []byte("[unclosed section\n"), 0o644)
+	SetSanctoraleDir(dir)
+	t.Cleanup(func() { SetSanctoraleDir("") })
+	if l := Base("new"); l.ID != "universal" || len(l.Cels) < 100 {
+		t.Fatalf("malformed override should fall back to embedded, got id=%q n=%d", l.ID, len(l.Cels))
+	}
+}