holy days of obligation
holy days of obligation, in the Roman Catholic Church, religious feast days on which Catholics must attend mass and refrain from unnecessary work. Although all Sundays are recognized as days on which Catholics are required to attend mass, the term holy days usually refers to other feasts that must be observed in the same manner as Sunday.
The number of such days has varied greatly, since bishops had the right to institute new feasts for their local dioceses until the 17th century. Pope Urban VIII then limited the number of holy days throughout the church to 36. In 1918, considering the difficulty of observing religious feasts that are not civil holidays, canon law designated 10 holy days:
- Christmas (December 25)
- Circumcision of Christ (now celebrated as the Solemnity of Mary; January 1)
- Epiphany (January 6)
- St. Joseph’s Day (March 19)
- Feast of Corpus Christi (Thursday after Trinity Sunday)
- Feast of the Assumption (August 15)
- All Saints’ Day (November 1)
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
With papal permission the number of holy days has been reduced or other changes made in some countries. For example, Epiphany, the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, and St. Joseph’s Day are not observed as holy days of obligation in the United States. Bishops in the United States and other countries also have permission to temporarily waive (abrogate) the requirement to attend mass on certain holy days of obligation when they fall on a Saturday or a Monday.
Scotland and Ireland keep all 10 holy days, except that Ireland celebrates St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) instead of St. Joseph’s. In Mexico the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) is observed as a holy day in addition to Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary, and the Feast of Corpus Christi. South Korea recognizes three holy days: Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary, and the Feast of the Assumption. Canada recognizes only two: Christmas and the Solemnity of Mary.
The various Eastern churches have their own feasts of obligation, which are generally more numerous than those of the Western church. Many of the Roman Catholic feasts are also celebrated by Lutherans, Anglicans, and other Protestant denominations. See holiday (table).