Holy Days of Obligation
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Holy Days of Obligation with Special Seasons and Feasts
2022 | 2023 | |||
Day | Holy Days of Obligation |
Seasons and Feasts |
Holy Days of Obligation |
Seasons and Feasts |
Sunday The Resurrection of Our Lord |
Sundays | Sundays | ||
Mary, Mother of God Our Lady's divine maternity |
Saturday, January 1 [1] |
Sunday, January 1 [1] |
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Epiphany Our Lord's manifestation to the world through the visit of the magi |
Sunday, January 2 |
Sunday, January 8 |
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Baptism of the Lord Close of the Christmas Season |
Sunday, January 9 |
No Obligation when on a Monday. | Monday, January 9 | |
Ash Wednesday + Beginning of Lent, which lasts until the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday night. |
March 2 | February 22 | ||
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion The Lord's entrance into Jerusalem and His betrayal. Begins Holy Week. |
April 10 | April 2 | ||
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper |
April 14 | April 6 | ||
Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion |
April 15 | April 7 | ||
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil in the Holy Night* |
April 16 [2] | April 8 [2] | ||
Easter Sunday The Lord's Resurrection. Begins the 50 Days of Easter |
April 17 | April 9 | ||
Ascension of the Lord Our Lord ascends into heaven. |
Sunday, May 29 |
Sunday, May 21 |
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Pentecost The Gift of the Holy Spirit. Closes the Easter Season. |
Sunday, June 5 |
Sunday, May 28 |
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Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Our Lord's Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament |
Sunday June 19 |
Sunday, June 11 |
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Assumption Assumption of Mary into Heaven |
Monday, August 15 [1] |
Tuesday, August 15 [1] |
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All Saints Celebration of those God has brought into heaven and how they model Christ to us |
Tuesday, November 1 [1] |
Wednesday, November 1 [1] |
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Christ the King Final Sunday of Church Year |
Sunday, November 20 |
Sunday, November 26 |
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1st Sunday of Advent 1st Sunday of Church Year and beginning of four-week preparation for Christmas |
Sunday, November 27 |
Sunday, December 3 |
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Immaculate Conception The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Patronal Feast of the United States |
Thursday, December 8 [3] |
Friday, December 8 [3] |
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Christmas The Birth of Our Lord |
Sunday, December 25 |
Monday, December 25 |
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Christmas Season Christmas through Baptism of the Lord |
December 25, 2022 - January 9, 2023 | December 25, 2023 - January 8, 2024 |
[1] At their November 1991 meeting, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops decided that whenever January 1, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God or August 15, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin or November 1, the Feast of All Saints falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the precept to celebrate Mass is dispensed. The Congregation for Bishops confirmed the action on July 4, 1992.
Although the obligation to celebrate Mass when these three holy days fall on a Saturday or Monday is abolished, parishes are to continue to observe these holy days by scheduling one or more Masses at a convenient time so that people who wish to participate are able to do so.
+ Lenten Days of Fast, Abstinence, and Penance
All Fridays of Lent are Days of Abstinence
Abstinence means not eating meat. All persons 14 years and older are bound by the law of abstinence.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are Days of both Fast and Abstinence
Fasting allows one full meal, but a light breakfast and lunch are not forbidden. All adults, from age 18 up to the beginning of their sixtieth (60) year, are bound by the law of fasting. Pastors and parents are to see to it that children, while not bound to the law of fast and abstinence, are educated and introduced to an authentic sense of penance.
On Fridays throughout the year, when abstinence is not required by law, acts of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety are suggested. Abstinence from meat is especially recommended but under no obligation by law.
[2]The Easter Vigil, during the holy night when Christ rose from the dead, ranks as the "mother of all vigils."11 Keeping watch, the Church awaits Christ's resurrection and celebrates it in the sacraments. Accordingly, the entire celebration of this vigil should take place at night, that is, it should either begin after nightfall or end before the dawn of Sunday (General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, no. 21). Easter Vigil should not begin before 8:30 pm CDT.
[3] The obligation to attend Mass is abrogated when the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is transferred to December 9.