Catholic Holy Days of Obligation

The Church invites her children to live according to the rhythm of grace marked by the liturgical year. Each Sunday is a holy day in itself, a day set apart for worship and rest. Alongside these Sundays, the Church names specific feast days as Holy Days of Obligation. On these days, the faithful are called to gather for the Eucharist and to pause from ordinary routines. We give time back to God, recognizing His presence in our lives and allowing His grace to renew us.

These special days highlight central truths of the faith. They recall the Incarnation, the life and glory of Christ, the holiness of Mary, and the communion of the saints. Each feast teaches something essential about salvation and what it means to belong to God. To keep them holy is to remember who we are as His people and what we are called to become.

A Holy Day of Obligation is a feast day on which Catholics are asked to attend Mass. The Church gives this instruction not as a rule but as a gift. The Eucharist is the center of Christian life. By gathering on these days, we remember that faith is not private but shared. We stand together before God in gratitude for the mysteries of our salvation.

In the United States, the Holy Days of Obligation are:

• January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – The year begins under the protection of Mary, who is honored as the Mother of God.
• Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter: Ascension of the Lord – In many dioceses, this feast is celebrated on the following Sunday. We remember Christ’s return to the Father and our call to eternal life.
• August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Mary is taken body and soul into heaven, showing us the destiny God desires for all who believe.
• November 1: All Saints’ Day – We give thanks for the holy men and women who now live in God’s presence and intercede for the Church.
• December 8: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – This is the patronal feast of the United States. It celebrates Mary’s preservation from original sin by God’s grace.
• December 25: The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ – The birth of our Savior, the Word made flesh, who came to dwell among us.

When January 1, August 15, or November 1 fall on a Saturday or Monday, the bishops of the United States lift the obligation to attend Mass that year. The feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas always remain obligatory, as they are central to our faith.

To keep these days holy, we begin by participating in the Eucharist. This is the heart of every feast. The Church also encourages quiet prayer, reflection on the mystery being celebrated, and acts of charity. When we pray and serve, these days become moments of grace for the world around us.

Each Holy Day of Obligation reminds us that worship and service belong together. At the altar, we meet Christ who gives Himself for us. In daily life, we meet Him again in the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. Acts of charity allow the grace of the Eucharist to bear fruit in love.

At CatholicMasses.org, almsgiving supports Catholic missions that carry this love to those in need. If you are homebound or unable to attend Mass in person, you are invited to join a Virtual Mass online. Offerings made here support schools run by religious sisters, food programs for children, health care for the sick, and the preaching of the Gospel across the world. In this way, every act of participation joins spiritual devotion with real works of mercy, uniting the faithful everywhere in one Body of Christ.