Holy Days of Obligation

· Solemnity of Mary, January 1

· Epiphany, The first Sunday after January 1

· Ascension of Jesus, Celebrated on the sixth Thursday after Easter Sunday

· The Body and Blood of Christ, The second Sunday after Pentecost

· Assumption of Mary, August 15

(if this occurs on a Saturday or a Monday there is no obligation to go to Mass, but you should go anyway!)

· Solemnity of All Saints, November 1

· Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8

· Christmas, December 25

(Holy days of obligation observed in the United States:)

What is a Holy day of obligation?

In the Roman Catholic Church, Holy days of obligation are feast days on which faithful Catholics must attend Holy Mass and refrain from unnecessary work. A Holy day usually refers to other feasts that must be observed in the same manner as the Sanctity of attending Holy Mass on Sunday.

The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church states that there are nine holy days of obligation other than on the obligatory Sundays, however many bishops have suppressed some of them or transferred them with the ability to fulfill this day on the  Sunday we are already at Mass. I think that is unfortunate that they would take away more opportunities for us to go to Holy Mass, and that we should attend Holy Mass as often as possible.