Holy Days of Obligation
- CCC #2177
- The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church."[1]
"Also to be observed are:
- the day of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
- the Epiphany,
- the Ascension of Christ,
- the feast of the Body and Blood of Christi,
- the feast of Mary the Mother of God,
- her Immaculate Conception,
- her Assumption,
- the feast of Saint Joseph,
- the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul,
- and the feast of All Saints."[2]
- National Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States of America
- Whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption, or November 1, the solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated.
| date | feast | U.S. Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Feast of Mary the Mother of God (Theotokos) | Abrogated on a Saturday or Monday. |
| January 6 | Epiphany | Moved to Sunday after January 1. |
| March 19 | Feast of Saint Joseph | Not a holyday of obligation. |
| 40 days after Easter | Ascension of Christ | Moved to Sunday in some dioceses. |
| Thursday after Trinity Sunday | Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) | Sunday after Trinity Sunday |
| June 29 | Feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul | Not a holyday of obligation. |
| August 15 | Assumption of Our Lady | Abrogated on a Saturday or Monday. |
| November 1 | All Saints | Abrogated on a Saturday or Monday. |
| December 8 | Immaculate Conception of Our Lady | |
| December 25 | Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ |