Holy Days of Obligation

THE CHURCH TEACHES THAT SUNDAY IS THE “PRIMORDIAL FEAST DAY,” THE DAY OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION. EVERY SUNDAY, CATHOLICS ARE OBLIGED TO ATTEND MASS, REST FROM UNNECESSARY WORK, AND DEVOTE TIME TO PRAYER AND FAMILY.

IN ADDITION TO SUNDAYS, THE CHURCH SETS ASIDE CERTAIN FEASTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR CALLED HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION. ON THESE DAYS, THE FAITHFUL ARE CALLED TO GATHER FOR THE EUCHARIST JUST AS ON SUNDAYS, BECAUSE THESE CELEBRATIONS HIGHLIGHT THE MOST IMPORTANT MYSTERIES OF OUR FAITH AND THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS.

IN THE UNITED STATES, THE HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION ARE:


  • MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (JANUARY 1) – HONORING MARY AS THE MOTHER OF JESUS AND MOTHER OF THE CHURCH.
  • ASCENSION OF THE LORD – CELEBRATED 40 DAYS AFTER EASTER (THOUGH IN MOST U.S. DIOCESES IT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY).
  • ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (AUGUST 15) – CELEBRATING MARY’S BEING TAKEN BODY AND SOUL INTO HEAVEN.
  • ALL SAINTS’ DAY (NOVEMBER 1) – HONORING ALL THE SAINTS, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, WHO SHARE IN ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.
  • IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (DECEMBER 8) – CELEBRATING MARY, PRESERVED FREE FROM SIN FROM THE MOMENT OF HER CONCEPTION; PATRONAL FEAST OF THE UNITED STATES.
  • CHRISTMAS (DECEMBER 25) – CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • WHEN JANUARY 1, AUGUST 15, OR NOVEMBER 1 FALLS ON A SATURDAY OR MONDAY, THE OBLIGATION IS LIFTED (EXCEPT FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, WHICH ARE ALWAYS OBLIGATORY).
  • OTHER COUNTRIES MAY HAVE DIFFERENT HOLY DAYS, AS ESTABLISHED BY THEIR BISHOPS’ CONFERENCES.
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WHY THE OBLIGATION?

THE WORD “OBLIGATION” MAY SOUND LIKE A BURDEN, BUT THE CHURCH SEES IT AS A GIFT AND PRIVILEGE. GOD GIVES US THESE DAYS SO WE CAN PAUSE FROM DAILY LIFE AND CELEBRATE HIS GREATEST WORKS OF SALVATION. ATTENDING MASS ON THESE FEASTS DEEPENS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE MYSTERIES OF CHRIST AND DRAWS US CLOSER TO THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS IN HEAVEN.


IN SHORT: HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION ARE MOMENTS WHEN THE CHURCH CALLS US TO CELEBRATE WHAT MATTERS MOST—
JESUS CHRIST, HIS SAVING WORK, AND THE GLORY HE SHARES WITH MARY AND THE SAINTS.