Holy Day of Obligation
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In the Catholic Church, the Holy Days of Obligation are the days, other than Sundays, on which the faithful are required to attend Mass. The 1983 Code of Canon Law standardized ten days to be observed as Holy Days of Obligation throughout the Church. These days are:
- The Immaculate Conception (December 8)
- Christmas (Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord) (December 25)
- St. Mary, the Mother of God formerly the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ (January 1)
- Epiphany (January 6)
- St. Joseph (March 19)
- St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29)
- The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)
- All Saints (November 1)
- The Ascension of Our Lord (39 days after Easter; 40th day of Eastertide)
- Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter)
Red vestments are worn at Mass held on the Feast of SS. Peter and Paul. White (or sometimes gold) vestments are worn at Mass held on all other Holy Days of Obligation, even those which fall during a season of the liturgical year when some other colour is used. In Spain, blue is sometimes worn on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
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Observance by country
The conference of bishops in a particular country or region may suppress the observance of these days, or transfer it to another day, with the permission of the Vatican. In some cases the obligation is observed during the following weekend mass. At times if a Holy Day is on a Monday or Saturday the observance will be held during regular weekend mass. They may also make the feast day of county's patron saint a holy day of obligation.
Australia
- Christmas
- The Epiphany (observed on following Sunday)
- The Assumption of the B.V.M.
- The Ascension of Our Lord (observed on following Sunday)
- Corpus Christi (observed on following Sunday)
Belgium
- Christmas
- The Epiphany (observed on the Sunday after January 1)
- The Assumption of the B.V.M.
- The Ascension of Our Lord
- Corpus Christi (observed on the following Sunday)
- All Saints
Canada
- Christmas
- St. Mary, the Mother of God
- The Epiphany (observed on the following Sunday)
- The Ascension of Our Lord (observed on the following Sunday)
- Corpus Christi (observed on the following Sunday)
England and Wales
- Christmas
- The Epiphany
- SS. Peter & Paul
- The Assumption of the B.V.M.
- All Saints
- The Ascension of Our Lord
- Corpus Christi
Ireland
- The Immaculate Conception
- Christmas
- The Epiphany
- St. Patrick's Day
- The Assumption of the B.V.M.
- All Saints
The Netherlands
- Christmas
- The Ascension of Our Lord
Poland
- Christmas
- St. Mary, the Mother of God
- Epiphany
- The Assumption of the B.V.M.
- All Saints
- The Ascension of Our Lord (observed on the following Sunday)
- Corpus Christi
United States
By Decree of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (now the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), promulgated November 17, 1992 by the Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of Cincinnati, and confirmed by the Apostolic See on July 4, 1992, the Holy Days of Obligation for Latin Rite Catholics in the United States are:
- The Immaculate Conception
- The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas)
- St. Mary, the Mother of God
- The Ascension of Our Lord (observed on the following Sunday in many dioceses)
- The Assumption of the B.V.M.
- All Saints' Day
However, 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 Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated.
