Down through the centuries of the Church, certain days have been determined to be so special in significance that they are declared Holy Days of Obligation. The term obligation is not to imply that we, as the faithful, should feel like we are being forced to attend Mass. The responsibility to willingly and without reservation attend Mass is upon us. The church makes Mass available and treats these holy days as Sundays.
Canon Law does indeed use the term obliged when describing our responsibility to attend Mass on a Holy Day of Obligation and further encourages to refrain from unnecessary servile work.
In the United States, the following days are celebrated as Holy Days of Obligation:
January 1st - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Thursday of the 6th week of Easter - Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord
August 15th - Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
November 1st - Solemnity of All Saints
December 8th - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 25th - Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
Please note: one of these Holy Days of Obligation is tomorrow!!!
In the Archdiocese of New Orleans, of which I live and serve as a Deacon, the Holy Day of the Ascension is transferred to the following Sunday. In most of the country, it remains a Holy Day on the Thursday.
In other parts of the world, Pentecost is also celebrated on the date it actually falls (I believe 40 days after Ascension) but in the United States it is always celebrated on a Sunday.
Hope this helps. So to all my Catholic friends; get thee to Mass tommorrow and fully celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
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