{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:25:36+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-07-14T20:05:13+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:45+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Body, Mind, & Spirit","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34038"},"slug":"body-mind-spirit","categoryId":34038},{"name":"Religion & Spirituality","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34202"},"slug":"religion-spirituality","categoryId":34202},{"name":"Christianity","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34206"},"slug":"christianity","categoryId":34206},{"name":"Catholicism","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34208"},"slug":"catholicism","categoryId":34208}],"title":"Holy Days of Obligation in the Catholic Church","strippedTitle":"holy days of obligation in the catholic church","slug":"holy-days-of-obligation-in-the-catholic-church","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn about the Catholic holy days of obligation, including the Feast of Mary, Ascension Thursday, All Saints' Day, and more.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"On holy days of obligation, <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/religion/christianity/catholicism/basic-beliefs-of-catholicism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Catholics</a> are <em>obliged</em> to participate in Mass. Every Sunday is a holy day of obligation, as are six other days throughout the year. In the United States, these holy days of obligation are\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>January 1: </strong>The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>40 days after Easter Sunday: </strong>Ascension Thursday</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>August 15: </strong>Assumption of Mary into heaven</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>November 1: </strong>All Saints’ Day</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>December 8: </strong>The Feast of the Immaculate Conception</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>December 25:</strong> Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Holy days are like Sundays in that Catholics must attend Mass, and if possible, refrain from unnecessary servile work. Some Catholic countries, such as Italy, Spain, and Ireland, give legal holiday status to some of these holy days, so people can attend Mass and be with family instead of at work.</p>\r\nIn the United States, Christmas Day (December 25) and the Immaculate Conception (December 8) are always days of obligation. Christmas and Easter (which always falls on Sunday) are the highest-ranking holy days, and the Immaculate Conception is the feast for the United States. However, if any of the other holy days falls on a Saturday or Monday, they aren’t considered holy days of obligation, because they’re back-to-back with Sunday. The concern is that it would be burdensome to many Catholics to have to go to church two days in a row.\r\n\r\nTo make things even more confusing, some parts of the United States have moved holy days, such as the Ascension from Thursday to the closest Sunday. If in doubt, it’s best to call the local Catholic parish or just go to Mass anyway. Attending Mass is never a waste of time, even if it ends up not being a holy day of obligation.\r\n\r\nEurope has four more holy days than the United States observes: January 6 (Epiphany), March 19 (St. Joseph), Corpus Christi (Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which is the Sunday after Pentecost, which is 50 days after Easter), and the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29).","description":"On holy days of obligation, <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/religion/christianity/catholicism/basic-beliefs-of-catholicism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Catholics</a> are <em>obliged</em> to participate in Mass. Every Sunday is a holy day of obligation, as are six other days throughout the year. In the United States, these holy days of obligation are\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>January 1: </strong>The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>40 days after Easter Sunday: </strong>Ascension Thursday</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>August 15: </strong>Assumption of Mary into heaven</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>November 1: </strong>All Saints’ Day</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>December 8: </strong>The Feast of the Immaculate Conception</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>December 25:</strong> Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Holy days are like Sundays in that Catholics must attend Mass, and if possible, refrain from unnecessary servile work. Some Catholic countries, such as Italy, Spain, and Ireland, give legal holiday status to some of these holy days, so people can attend Mass and be with family instead of at work.</p>\r\nIn the United States, Christmas Day (December 25) and the Immaculate Conception (December 8) are always days of obligation. Christmas and Easter (which always falls on Sunday) are the highest-ranking holy days, and the Immaculate Conception is the feast for the United States. However, if any of the other holy days falls on a Saturday or Monday, they aren’t considered holy days of obligation, because they’re back-to-back with Sunday. The concern is that it would be burdensome to many Catholics to have to go to church two days in a row.\r\n\r\nTo make things even more confusing, some parts of the United States have moved holy days, such as the Ascension from Thursday to the closest Sunday. If in doubt, it’s best to call the local Catholic parish or just go to Mass anyway. Attending Mass is never a waste of time, even if it ends up not being a holy day of obligation.\r\n\r\nEurope has four more holy days than the United States observes: January 6 (Epiphany), March 19 (St. Joseph), Corpus Christi (Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which is the Sunday after Pentecost, which is 50 days after Easter), and the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29).","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34208,"title":"Catholicism","slug":"catholicism","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34208"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":[{"articleId":172026,"title":"Repurposing Items for Beautiful Holiday Decorating","slug":"decorating-for-the-holidays-with-what-you-already-have","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","crafts","gifts-holidays"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/172026"}},{"articleId":192609,"title":"How to Pray the Rosary: A Comprehensive Guide","slug":"how-to-pray-the-rosary","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/192609"}},{"articleId":193770,"title":"How to Play Rummy: All You Need to Know","slug":"rummy-understanding-the-rules-and-starting-a-game","categoryList":["home-auto-hobbies","games","card-games","general-card-games"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/193770"}},{"articleId":153792,"title":"Format Numbers in Thousands and Millions in Excel Reports","slug":"format-numbers-in-thousands-and-millions-in-excel-reports","categoryList":["technology","software","microsoft-products","excel"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/153792"}},{"articleId":147241,"title":"How to Use the Z-Table","slug":"how-to-use-the-z-table","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","math","statistics"],"_links":{"self":"/articles/147241"}}],"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":235898,"title":"10 Famous Catholics","slug":"10-famous-catholics","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235898"}},{"articleId":235895,"title":"11 Popular Catholic Saints","slug":"11-popular-catholic-saints","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235895"}},{"articleId":235892,"title":"Famous Martyrs of the Roman Persecutions","slug":"famous-martyrs-roman-persecutions","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235892"}},{"articleId":235889,"title":"Catholicism in Ancient Times (A.D. 33–741)","slug":"catholicism-ancient-times-d-33-741","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235889"}},{"articleId":235886,"title":"Catholicism in the Time of Charlemagne","slug":"catholicism-time-charlemagne","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235886"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":true,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282064,"slug":"catholicism-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119855712","categoryList":["body-mind-spirit","religion-spirituality","christianity","catholicism"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119855713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119855713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119855713-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119855713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119855713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/catholicism-fd-4e-9781119855712.jpg","width":250,"height":350},"title":"Catholicism For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><p><b>Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD,</b> is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and a member of the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.</p> <p><b>Rev. Fr. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD,</b> is co-host with Father Trigilio of a weekly television program on EWTN called <i>Web of Faith</i>. With Father Trigilio, he is the co-author of previous editions of <i>Catholicism For Dummies</i>. <p><b>Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD,</b> is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and a member of the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.</p> <p><b>Rev. Fr. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD,</b> is co-host with Father Trigilio of a weekly television program on EWTN called <i>Web of Faith</i>. With Father Trigilio, he is the co-author of previous editions of <i>Catholicism For Dummies</i>.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":35455,"name":"Rev. John Trigilio, Jr.","slug":"rev-john-trigilio,-jr","description":" <p><b>Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD,</b> is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and a member of the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.</p> <p><b>Rev. Fr. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD,</b> is co-host with Father Trigilio of a weekly television program on EWTN called <i>Web of Faith</i>. With Father Trigilio, he is the co-author of previous editions of <i>Catholicism For Dummies</i>. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/35455"}},{"authorId":9014,"name":"Rev. Kenneth Brighenti","slug":"rev-kenneth-brighenti","description":" <p><b>Rev. Fr. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD,</b> is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and a member of the faculty at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.</p> <p><b>Rev. Fr. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD,</b> is co-host with Father Trigilio of a weekly television program on EWTN called <i>Web of Faith</i>. With Father Trigilio, he is the co-author of previous editions of <i>Catholicism For Dummies</i>. 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Holy Days of Obligation in the Catholic Church

Updated: 07-14-2022

Catholicism For Dummies

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On holy days of obligation, Catholics are obliged to participate in Mass. Every Sunday is a holy day of obligation, as are six other days throughout the year. In the United States, these holy days of obligation are

January 1: The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God
40 days after Easter Sunday: Ascension Thursday
August 15: Assumption of Mary into heaven
November 1: All Saints’ Day
December 8: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25: Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord

Holy days are like Sundays in that Catholics must attend Mass, and if possible, refrain from unnecessary servile work. Some Catholic countries, such as Italy, Spain, and Ireland, give legal holiday status to some of these holy days, so people can attend Mass and be with family instead of at work.

In the United States, Christmas Day (December 25) and the Immaculate Conception (December 8) are always days of obligation. Christmas and Easter (which always falls on Sunday) are the highest-ranking holy days, and the Immaculate Conception is the feast for the United States. However, if any of the other holy days falls on a Saturday or Monday, they aren’t considered holy days of obligation, because they’re back-to-back with Sunday. The concern is that it would be burdensome to many Catholics to have to go to church two days in a row.

To make things even more confusing, some parts of the United States have moved holy days, such as the Ascension from Thursday to the closest Sunday. If in doubt, it’s best to call the local Catholic parish or just go to Mass anyway. Attending Mass is never a waste of time, even if it ends up not being a holy day of obligation.

Europe has four more holy days than the United States observes: January 6 (Epiphany), March 19 (St. Joseph), Corpus Christi (Thursday after Trinity Sunday, which is the Sunday after Pentecost, which is 50 days after Easter), and the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29).

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