Holy Days of Obligation are important feast days in the Catholic liturgical calendar on which Catholics are required to attend Mass and refrain from unnecessary servile work. Failure to attend Mass on these days is considered a grave sin unless one has a good reason for being absent, such as illness or travel. The purpose of Holy Days of Obligation is for the faithful to set aside time to commemorate and worship on the most significant days of the liturgical year.
There are 6 Holy Days of Obligation in the universal Catholic Church calendar. However, the number varies by country depending on whether a particular feast day has been transferred to Sunday or removed from the calendar. In the United States, there are currently 6 Holy Days of Obligation:
- Christmas (December 25) – Commemorates the Nativity of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:1-20)
- Mary, Mother of God (January 1) – Honors Mary’s divine maternity as the Mother of Jesus (Luke 2:16-21)
- Ascension (40 days after Easter) – Celebrates Jesus’ bodily Ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9-11)
- Assumption of Mary (August 15) – Commemorates the taking up of Mary’s body and soul into heaven (Revelation 12:1)
- All Saints’ Day (November 1) – Honors all saints and martyrs throughout Christian history (Hebrews 12:1-2)
- Immaculate Conception (December 8) – Celebrates the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary without original sin (Luke 1:28)
These Holy Days have been celebrated by the Catholic Church for centuries, though some feast days were established more recently. For example, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God was established in 1968, while the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception has been celebrated since the 7th century. Each Holy Day has special significance and deep tradition behind its meaning.
Christmas (December 25)
Christmas, which commemorates the Nativity of Jesus Christ, is one of the most ancient and significant Holy Days for Catholics. The feast celebrates Jesus being born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago, as prophesied in the Old Testament. According to the Gospels, Jesus was born in a manger because there was no room at the inn (Luke 2:7). Angels appeared in the skies to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks and proclaimed the great joy of the Savior’s birth (Luke 2:8-15). The shepherds then sought the Christ child in the manger and became the very first to worship him.
On Christmas, Catholics celebrate the Incarnation – that is, God taking on human flesh and entering the world as man. The eternal Word through whom the universe was created chose to be born as a helpless infant. This shows God’s great love for humanity by humbling himself to share in our humanity. Christmas marks the dawning of salvation for all people with the arrival of Jesus, whose name means “God saves” in Hebrew.
The Christmas season lasts 12 days, from December 25 to January 6. It is preceded by the season of Advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the Nativity of Christ. Traditions such as setting up mangers, Christmas trees, wreaths, and lights remind Catholics of the meaning of Christmas and add joy and anticipation to the season. Attending Christmas Eve or Christmas Day liturgy is the most important way for Catholics to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
Mary, Mother of God (January 1)
In the Catholic Church, January 1st is a Holy Day of Obligation honoring Mary as the Mother of God. It is the oldest Marian feast in the Christian calendar. Originally called the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, it commemorates when Jesus was taken to the temple eight days after his birth and given the name Jesus, meaning “God saves” (Luke 2:21). Based on the day’s proximity to Christmas, it also emphasized Mary’s critical role in the Incarnation.
In 1974, Pope Paul VI changed the name of the feast to the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This title for Mary goes back to the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, which affirmed Mary as not only the mother of the human Jesus but as the Mother of God, since Jesus is both fully human and fully divine as one Person.
On this Holy Day, Catholics are reminded of Mary’s integral part in God’s plan of salvation. By bearing and giving birth to Christ, Mary made possible the union of divinity and humanity in the Person of Jesus. Calling Mary “Mother of God” encapsulates Catholic beliefs about who Jesus is and the central importance of his Incarnation.
Attending Mass on January 1st or the preceding evening is a Holy Day of Obligation. The liturgy focuses on Mary’s divine maternity and praises God for the gift of salvation in Christ. Faithful observance of this feast day honors Mary and celebrates the new year in light of Christ’s redemptive work.
Ascension (40 Days after Easter)
The Feast of the Ascension is one of the earliest Christian celebrations, commemorating the bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven after rising from the dead. According to Scripture, Jesus appeared to his disciples over a period of 40 days between his resurrection and ascension (Acts 1:3). Right before ascending, Jesus instructed his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit and to spread the Gospel to all nations (Acts 1:4-9).
On this Holy Day, Catholics commemorate the completion of Jesus’ earthly mission of redemption and his triumphant entry into heaven as King and Lord. Jesus took on human flesh to accomplish salvation through his death and resurrection. The Ascension marks his return in glory to the Father in his human body, lifted up in a cloud as the disciples looked on (Acts 1:9-11). He remains in heaven interceding for the world as the eternal High Priest.
The Ascension is traditionally celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday. However, some countries celebrate it the following Sunday to make it easier for the faithful to attend Mass. Attending an Ascension liturgy fulfills the Holy Day obligation. The readings and hymns highlight Christ’s exaltation and the mission he gave his Church until his second coming.
Assumption of Mary (August 15)
On August 15th, the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. This Holy Day of Obligation commemorates Mary being taken up body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life. Although not recorded in Scripture, Catholic tradition holds that Mary was assumed into heaven before her body saw decay. This belief has been present since the early centuries of the Church.
Pope Pius XII formally defined the dogma of the Assumption in his 1950 apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. The Pope declared it a divinely revealed truth that Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” Either before or after her death, Mary was taken up and now reigns as Queen of Heaven at her Son’s side.
On this feast day, Catholics celebrate the honor bestowed on Mary and contemplate their own share in the resurrection of the body. Mary’s assumption provides hope that those who die in God’s grace will join Christ and Mary in heaven. Attending Mass on this Holy Day of Obligation allows Catholics to praise God for the witness of Mary and her exemplary life of faith.
All Saints Day (November 1)
Every year on November 1st, the Church celebrates All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation. This solemnity honors all saints – both known and unknown – who have entered heaven. While All Saints specifically celebrates those in the Church Triumphant (heaven), it also reminds the faithful on earth of their call to holiness.
The early roots of this feast reach back to the 4th century, when churches held a feast commemorating martyrs and saints. Pope Gregory III later moved the feast to November 1st and dedicated St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in honor of the saints on this date. In the 9th century, Pope Gregory IV extended the feast to the entire Church.
On All Saints Day, Catholics venerate and reflect on saints from every era of Church history. This includes great saints of renowned holiness as well as common, everyday saints who strived to follow Christ. The saints stand as testimonies that all people from every race and background are called to sainthood through baptism.
Attending Mass on this Holy Day allows Catholics to praise God for the lives of the saints and ask the saints to pray for them in heaven. Observing this feast through prayer, Scripture, or reading about the saints inspires the faithful to pursue lives of heroic virtue.
Immaculate Conception (December 8)
On December 8th, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Holy Day of Obligation commemorates God preserving Mary from all stain of original sin from the moment of her conception. Although sinentered the world through Adam and Eve, Mary was by special grace conceived without any trace of original sin.
The Immaculate Conception is often confused with the virginal conception of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. But it refers to Mary’s conception in her mother’s womb without the blemish of Adam’s sin. The basis of this belief is found in Luke 1:28, where the angel calls Mary “full of grace” or “highly favored.”
This feast day was celebrated in various forms beginning in the 7th century. In 1854, Pope Pius IX officially promulgated the dogma in the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus. This solemnity celebrates Mary as a sinless vessel of divine grace, fittingly prepared to bear the Son of God.
Attending Mass on this Holy Day reminds Catholics of God’s saving grace working from the very beginning of Mary’s life to keep her sinless. Honoring her Immaculate Conception allows the faithful to celebrate Christ’s Incarnation through a worthy, undefiled mother.
Conclusion
Holy Days of Obligation stand out as days of utmost significance and celebration for Catholics throughout the world. On these feast days, Catholics gather to worship and find renewal as they commemorate definitive moments and people in the Church’s history of salvation. By attending Mass and focusing more deeply on the spiritual meaning behind these days, Catholics can strengthen their faith and draw closer to God.
Whether venerating Mary’s Perpetual Virginity, Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, or the holy death of a martyred saint, Holy Days of Obligation offer a liturgical rhythm to the year for Catholics. They provide sacred occasions to render thanks and honor to God for the mysteries of the Incarnation, Redemption, and the Communion of Saints. Observing them with contrite hearts keeps believers grounded in the foundational events that undergird the Church and their faith.