Days of Obligation why different per location of world

[TheSeeker2014]

Why are some days of Obligation an Obligation and not others in different countries??
And why are some not an Obligation when they land on a certain day?

I did read this link: catholic.com/blog/jimmy-akin/what-are-the-holy-days-of-obligation

but it does not really say why besides the Conference of Bishops regions decisions…
and how do they decide these and why different ones for different places of the world?

 

[pianistclare]

Each place has their own calendar. For example, Our Lady of Guadalupe. Just a feast day here, but a Major Feast Day and HolyDay in Mexico.
Each locale places emphasis on their own patrons.

 

[E_7]

Good question. I have always wondered why in Singapore and USA the Assumption of Mary is a day of obligation to assist Mass, but in Puerto Rico it is not.

 

[SMHW]

Why are some days of Obligation an Obligation and not others in different countries??
And why are some not an Obligation when they land on a certain day?

I did read this link: catholic.com/blog/jimmy-akin/what-are-the-holy-days-of-obligation

but it does not really say why besides the Conference of Bishops regions decisions…
and how do they decide these and why different ones for different places of the world?

It’s a very old (centuries) tradition. Some days have more cultural relevance than others. Countries that have old Catholic heritages might have more holy days of obligation than countries with non Chistian origins because holy days are likely to be national holidays and thus facilitate Mass attendance.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Canon law provides an overall list:

1. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
2. The Epiphany
3. The Ascension
4. The Body and Blood of Christ
5. Holy Mary the Mother of God
6. Her Immaculate Conception
7. Her Assumption
8. Saint Joseph
9. Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles
10. All Saints.

I think the Church, in her wisdom, recognizes that it would be difficult for people to properly observe all these days, especially in countries where it is not part of the culture to have the days off from work. So it is left to the individual bishops’ conferences to suppress certain days or transfer them to Sundays.

 

[John_Lazarus]

Canon law provides an overall list:

1. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
2. The Epiphany
3. The Ascension
4. The Body and Blood of Christ
5. Holy Mary the Mother of God
6. Her Immaculate Conception
7. Her Assumption
8. Saint Joseph
9. Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles
10. All Saints.

I think the Church, in her wisdom, recognizes that it would be difficult for people to properly observe all these days, especially in countries where it is not part of the culture to have the days off from work. So it is left to the individual bishops’ conferences to suppress certain days or transfer them to Sundays.

There are only 2 in Canada – 1 and 5. Both are, coincidentally, federal holidays.

 

[TheSeeker2014]

Canon law provides an overall list:

1. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
2. The Epiphany
3. The Ascension
4. The Body and Blood of Christ
5. Holy Mary the Mother of God
6. Her Immaculate Conception
7. Her Assumption
8. Saint Joseph
9. Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles
10. All Saints.

I think the Church, in her wisdom, recognizes that it would be difficult for people to properly observe all these days, especially in countries where it is not part of the culture to have the days off from work. So it is left to the individual bishops’ conferences to suppress certain days or transfer them to Sundays.

There are only 2 in Canada – 1 and 5. Both are, coincidentally, federal holidays.

That is interesting

 

[Mintaka]

Re: Singapore and the USA -

Both countries were once colonies of the UK. The Feast of the Assumption was very important in England; it was the beginning of the legal year for many centuries. Also, the UK was “Mary’s Dowry” and very devoted to Our Lady.

Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain, so it probably follows the example of Spain, Mexico, etc.

 

[phil19034]

Re: Singapore and the USA -

Both countries were once colonies of the UK. The Feast of the Assumption was very important in England; it was the beginning of the legal year for many centuries. Also, the UK was “Mary’s Dowry” and very devoted to Our Lady.

Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain, so it probably follows the example of Spain, Mexico, etc.

well… Puerto Rico really doesn’t follow Spain’s lead. It really follows the Dominican Republic. All of Puerto Rico used to be under to the Archbishop of Santo Domingo until 1960, when San Juan was elevated to an Archdiocese.

While I’m not 100% what the Holy Days in the DR are, the Holy Days in Puerto Rico are as follows:
1 January: Mary, Mother of God
6 January: Epiphany
Corpus Christi
Christmas

I think one of the reasons the number of Obligated days in Latin America are lower than Spain is due to the number of Native Americans converted.

Spain Obligates:
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Epiphany
St. Joseph’s Day
St. James’s Day (Patron of Spain)
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
All Saints’ Day
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Christmas

Finally, there is a good article here regarding the history of why America has the Holy Days it has, especially considering that America is a protestant nation:

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=1371

 

[Elizium23]

Re: Singapore and the USA -

Both countries were once colonies of the UK. The Feast of the Assumption was very important in England; it was the beginning of the legal year for many centuries. Also, the UK was “Mary’s Dowry” and very devoted to Our Lady.

Puerto Rico was a colony of Spain, so it probably follows the example of Spain, Mexico, etc.

That would not be the Assumption, but the Annunciation. It was called Lady Day. My dad does a lot of genealogy research and he has to be careful when calculating dates because the years used to begin on 25 March.

 

[ProVobis]

well… Puerto Rico really doesn’t follow Spain’s lead. It really follows the Dominican Republic. All of Puerto Rico used to be under to the Archbishop of Santo Domingo until 1960, when San Juan was elevated to an Archdiocese.

While I’m not 100% what the Holy Days in the DR are, the Holy Days in Puerto Rico are as follows:
1 January: Mary, Mother of God
6 January: Epiphany
Corpus Christi
Christmas

I think one of the reasons the number of Obligated days in Latin America are lower than Spain is due to the number of Native Americans converted.

Spain Obligates:
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Epiphany
St. Joseph’s Day
St. James’s Day (Patron of Spain)
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
All Saints’ Day
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Christmas

Finally, there is a good article here regarding the history of why America has the Holy Days it has, especially considering that America is a protestant nation:

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=1371

IIRC, St. Patrick’s Day is HDO in Ireland.

 

[SMHW]

IIRC, St. Patrick’s Day is HDO in Ireland.

Since it’s an Irish solemnity and also a public holiday, it makes sense that it would be a HDO.

 

[Vico]

Why are some days of Obligation an Obligation and not others in different countries??
And why are some not an Obligation when they land on a certain day?

I did read this link: catholic.com/blog/jimmy-akin/what-are-the-holy-days-of-obligation

but it does not really say why besides the Conference of Bishops regions decisions…
and how do they decide these and why different ones for different places of the world?

Changes are made to adapt to social change and the need for employment to support the family, it allows the faithful to more easily meet their obligations. Individuals still may observe those that are suppressed.