holy day of obligation

Other Definitions
holy day of obligation (dict)

In the Roman 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) (December 25)
Mary, the Mother of God (January 1)
Epiphany (January 6)
St. Joseph (March 19)
St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29)
The Assumption of Mary (August 15)
All Saints (November 1)
The Ascension (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 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.

Observation 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.