Holy Days of Obligation
Holy Days of Obligation are days when we as Catholics are required to attend Mass in addition to our regular Sunday obligation. There are six Holy Days of Obligation during the liturgical year which begins during Advent:
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (December 8)
- Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord (December 25)
- Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1)
- Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter Sunday)
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (August 15)
- All Saints' Day (November 1)
If certain Holy Days fall on a Saturday or Monday, they are not considered Holy Days of Obligation for that particular year. In the United States, the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Christmas Day (December 25) are always Holy Days, even when they fall on a Saturday or Monday. There are also certain areas in the United States in which the Feast of the Ascension is moved from Thursday to the nearest Sunday, however the Archdiocese of Hartford continues to commemorate the Ascension on Thursday.
2010 Schedule
Archdiocese of Hartford
Archdiocese of Hartford
Below is the 2010 schedule of Holy Days for the Archdiocese of Hartford (the Holy Days of Obligation are marked in bold):
- January 1st - The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
- May 13th - The Ascension of the Lord
- August 15th - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- November 1st - All Saints Day (because it falls on a Monday it is not a holy day of obligation)
- December 8th - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- December 25th - The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)