The days the Church asks for
Holy Days of Obligation
Days on which Catholics are asked to attend Mass, as they are on Sundays. Which days these are depends on where you live — and that surprises almost everyone.
Working it out…
This year's dates
The dates below are the ten universal feasts listed in canon 1246 §1, with the moveable ones calculated from the date of Easter for the current year. Whether each one obliges you depends on your country — see the note underneath.
| Feast | Date |
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Why the list differs by country
Canon 1246 §1 names ten holy days for the universal Church, alongside every Sunday. But canon 1246 §2 allows each conference of bishops, with the prior approval of the Apostolic See, to suppress a day or transfer its observance to a Sunday. Most conferences have done exactly that, which is why a Catholic in Manila, in Boston, and in London can each be looking at a different list. Vatican City observes all ten; Hong Kong observes only Christmas.
These feasts are the high points of the Church’s year. Two common adjustments: the Ascension, which falls on a Thursday, is transferred to the following Sunday in many countries. And some conferences abrogate the obligation when a particular feast falls on a Saturday or a Monday — in the United States, for example, this applies to Mary Mother of God, the Assumption, and All Saints. Such rules are national decisions, not universal law.
Because of this, the only reliable list is your own diocese's. This page tells you what the feasts are and when they fall; your diocese tells you which of them bind you.
What the obligation actually means
On a holy day of obligation, canon 1247 binds the faithful to attend Mass and to abstain from work or business that would impede the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the day, or due relaxation of mind and body. A Mass on the evening before satisfies the obligation, exactly as a Saturday vigil satisfies the Sunday one. If you are unsure what actually happens during the liturgy, we walk through it in what actually happens at Mass.
The obligation does not bind where it cannot reasonably be met — illness, care of an infant or an elderly relative, work that genuinely cannot be left, or the simple absence of an accessible Mass. This is not a loophole; it is how the law is written. If you are unsure whether your situation excuses you, ask your priest rather than guess in either direction.
This page describes the Latin Church. Eastern Catholic Churches keep their own calendars of obligation. Profess Your Faith is an independent lay project — for the list that binds you, consult your diocese.
Common questions
What are the holy days of obligation?
They are feast days on which Catholics are bound to attend Mass, as on Sundays. Canon law lists ten for the universal Church, including Christmas, the Assumption, All Saints, the Immaculate Conception, and Mary Mother of God.
Why do holy days of obligation differ by country?
Canon law permits each national bishops conference, with the approval of Rome, to suppress a holy day or transfer its observance to the nearest Sunday. Most conferences have done so, which is why the binding list differs from country to country.
Does a vigil Mass the evening before count?
Yes. A Mass celebrated on the evening before a holy day satisfies the obligation, in exactly the same way that a Saturday evening vigil Mass satisfies the Sunday obligation.
Is it a sin to miss a holy day of obligation?
Deliberately missing Mass on a day of obligation without a serious reason is grave matter. However the obligation does not bind where it cannot reasonably be met, such as illness, caring for a dependent, unavoidable work, or the absence of an accessible Mass.
Is the Ascension on a Thursday or a Sunday?
The Ascension falls forty days after Easter, which is always a Thursday. In many countries the celebration is transferred to the following Sunday by decision of the bishops conference, so the answer depends on where you live.
How many holy days of obligation are there?
Canon law names ten for the universal Church, but almost no country observes all ten as days of obligation. Most nations observe between two and six, with the remainder either transferred to a Sunday or suppressed.
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