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henrikhank
Guest
Is August 15 a holy day of obligation fo the easten catholics?
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Vico
Guest
It is for me, a Byzantine Catholic.
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ciero
Guest
I guess if you are a Latinized Byzantine Catholic and ascribe to the idea of going to church due to obligation it can be a holy day of obligation…but if you have embraced a Byzantine ethos you go to church on Sundays and Feast days because you have a love for God and desire to worship Him.
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Diakonia
Guest
The concept and terminology of ‘holydays of obligation’ is historically foreign to the Eastern Churches - Catholic or Orthodox, although some Eastern Catholic Churches have now incorporated the terminology into their Particular Law under Latin influence. Ciero put it well! 
We do observe Feasts. Among the Churches of Byzantine heritage, we have 12 Great Feasts (sometimes called the Solemn or Major Feasts ). Those are the most important and we should seek to attend Divine Liturgy on those days, if at all possible.
The Chaldeans and Syro-Malabars term such days as ‘Liturgical Days of Observance’. I think the Maronites still call them ‘Holydays of Obligation’ and I believe that is true of The Syro-Malankarese and Syrians, as well. The Armenians call them ‘Daghavar’ (which means ‘tent’; not sure the significance of the terminology). Among the Copts, they are Major Feasts; that’s also the case with the Ethiopians and Eritreans.
In the Churches that serve according to the Byzantine Rite, August 15 (August 28 for those of us on the Julian calendar) is one of the Great Feasts - the Dormition (or Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos.
The non-Byzantine Churches (those often called the Oriental Catholic Churches, as well as the Maronites, Chaldeans, and Syro-Malabarese) also all observe the day (although the date varies for those who observe calendars other than the Gregorian or Julian).
Some term the feast as the Assumption, some as the Dormition, the Armenians as the Verapokhoum or Transfiguration of Mary.
We do observe Feasts. Among the Churches of Byzantine heritage, we have 12 Great Feasts (sometimes called the Solemn or Major Feasts ). Those are the most important and we should seek to attend Divine Liturgy on those days, if at all possible.
The Chaldeans and Syro-Malabars term such days as ‘Liturgical Days of Observance’. I think the Maronites still call them ‘Holydays of Obligation’ and I believe that is true of The Syro-Malankarese and Syrians, as well. The Armenians call them ‘Daghavar’ (which means ‘tent’; not sure the significance of the terminology). Among the Copts, they are Major Feasts; that’s also the case with the Ethiopians and Eritreans.
In the Churches that serve according to the Byzantine Rite, August 15 (August 28 for those of us on the Julian calendar) is one of the Great Feasts - the Dormition (or Falling Asleep) of the Theotokos.
The non-Byzantine Churches (those often called the Oriental Catholic Churches, as well as the Maronites, Chaldeans, and Syro-Malabarese) also all observe the day (although the date varies for those who observe calendars other than the Gregorian or Julian).
Some term the feast as the Assumption, some as the Dormition, the Armenians as the Verapokhoum or Transfiguration of Mary.
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Vico
Guest
Well, you know certainly is an obligation by at least one of these meanings, east or west.
Merriam Webster Definition of OBLIGATION:
1 : the action of obligating oneself to a course of action (as by a promise or vow)
2 a : something (as a formal contract, a promise, or the demands of conscience or custom) that obligates one to a course of action
b : a debt security (as a mortgage or corporate bond)
c : a commitment (as by a government) to pay a particular sum of money; also : an amount owed under such an obligation <unable to meet its obligations, the company went into bankruptcy>
3 a : a condition or feeling of being obligated
b : a debt of gratitude
4: something one is bound to do : duty, responsibility
Merriam Webster Definition of OBLIGATION:
1 : the action of obligating oneself to a course of action (as by a promise or vow)
2 a : something (as a formal contract, a promise, or the demands of conscience or custom) that obligates one to a course of action
b : a debt security (as a mortgage or corporate bond)
c : a commitment (as by a government) to pay a particular sum of money; also : an amount owed under such an obligation <unable to meet its obligations, the company went into bankruptcy>
3 a : a condition or feeling of being obligated
b : a debt of gratitude
4: something one is bound to do : duty, responsibility
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ciero
Guest
soooooo…your point is?
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UnionOfHearts
Guest
Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches '**Canon 880 -…
§3. Holy days of obligation common to all the Eastern Churches, beyond Sundays, are the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension, the Dormition of the Holy Mary Mother of God and the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul except for the particular law of a Church sui iuris approved by the Apostolic See which suppresses a holy days of obligation or transfers them to a Sunday.
Canon 881 - §1. The Christian faithful are bound by the obligation to participate on Sundays and feast days in the Divine Liturgy, or according to the prescriptions or legitimate customs of their own Church sui iuris, in the celebration of the divine praises**.’
Looks like whether you like it or not all Catholics are under an obligation to go to ‘participate on sundays and feast days in the Divine Liturgy’ and all are under an obligation to do the same on Holy Days of Obligation.
I’m guessing you’re not being too serious here, but ALL Christians should go to church because they love God and wish to desire him, even Western Catholics…but if you have embraced a Byzantine ethos you go to church on Sundays and Feast days because you have a love for God and desire to worship Him.
This dichotomy between the practice of the West regarding Holy days of obligation and the East’s practice is unhelpful, the obligation is there to encourage people to worship and love God at Mass or divine Liturgy and to ensure that they are strengthened by being present at that Most august sacrifice. It is not going to make those who don’t want to worship or love God go to church, they’ll just ignore the obligation, rather its to encourage all of us, if we get lazy or its hard for us to get to church, to make that extra effort and go.
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ciero
Guest
I am being very serious here…how many times have you heard is such and such a day an obligation…just look at some of the threads on CAF. And thanks for making my point for me by quoting canon law.Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches '**Canon 880 -…
§3. Holy days of obligation common to all the Eastern Churches, beyond Sundays, are the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension, the Dormition of the Holy Mary Mother of God and the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul except for the particular law of a Church sui iuris approved by the Apostolic See which suppresses a holy days of obligation or transfers them to a Sunday.
Canon 881 - §1. The Christian faithful are bound by the obligation** to participate on Sundays and feast days in the Divine Liturgy, or according to the prescriptions or legitimate customs of their own Church sui iuris, in the celebration of the divine praises.’
Looks like whether you like it or not all Catholics are under an obligation to go to ‘participate on sundays and feast days in the Divine Liturgy’ and all are under an obligation to do the same on Holy Days of Obligation.
I’m guessing you’re not being too serious here, but ALL Christians should go to church because they love God and wish to desire him, even Western Catholics
This dichotomy between the practice of the West regarding Holy days of obligation and the East’s practice is unhelpful, the obligation is there to encourage people to worship and love God at Mass or divine Liturgy and to ensure that they are strengthened by being present at that Most august sacrifice. It is not going to make those who don’t want to worship or love God go to church, they’ll just ignore the obligation, rather its to encourage all of us, if we get lazy or its hard for us to get to church, to make that extra effort and go.
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UnionOfHearts
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ciero
Guest
Most Catholic go to Mass on Holy Days of Obligation …because they are Holy Days of OBLIGATION, not because they want to or because they see any benefit in it…but because it is a law. IMHO not a very good reason to go to church.
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UnionOfHearts
Guest
I’m not really sure you, I or indeed anyone can make that judgement.
Regardless it is a good law, ensuring as it does the salvation of souls and it is a universal law applying to both east and west.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
I think the bad implication about the obligation is failure to do it is a mortal sin (disobedience to Church law) and thus it comes off as, “do it or you’ll go to hell.”
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UnionOfHearts
Guest
The church merely wants to emphasise the importance of frequently attending Mass even if you do not receive communion. Holy Mother Churche’s desire is to ensure that it saves as many souls as possible and oftentimes people require both a ‘carrot’, in this case the immeasurable benefits and graces one receives from attending mass.divine liturgy, and a ‘stick’ namely that if you don’t, you lose all sanctifying grace and run the risk of going to hell. The church is well within its rights to use both and both are equally charitable.
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Diakonia
Guest
When you play outside your own yard, and quote the rules of the game, you should be sure of exactly what they mean
. Our participation is in the Divine Liturgy “or according to the prescriptions or legitimate customs of (our) own Church”.
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UnionOfHearts
Guest
My point simply was that there is an obligation and furthermore that Holy days of Obligation do exist in the Eastern Catholic churches, it does not say ‘if you love God go and if not don’t’.When you play outside your own yard, and quote the rules of the game, you should be sure of exactly what they mean
Further the sentence you highlighted should be taken in context ‘The Christian faithful are bound by the obligation to participate on Sundays and feast days in the Divine Liturgy, or according to the prescriptions or legitimate customs of their own Church sui iuris, in the celebration of the divine praises’
I suspect the last sentence is intended so that some could for example go to Vespers (or the equivalent) and fulfil their obligation in so doing.
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
Funny thing about quoting the Code of Canon Law for the Eastern Churches. First it is a code that was written not by Easterners, but by Latins for Easterners (albeit from the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, which is made up primarily of Romans/Latins). Secondly, how is it possible to write one code for so many Eastern and Oriental Churches that speak to each particular Church’s traditions? Thirdly, it is the duty of our hierarchs (our Patriarchs, bishops and Synods of bishops) to interpret Law for us according to each particular Church’s tradition. Finally, in an Eastern mindset, Canon Law is kinda like the Pirate’s Code: “They’re more like guidelines than actual rules.”
In any case, as has been said, the tradition of the Byzantine East is not to emphasize the notion of “obligation.” That being said there is the understanding that if one does not participate regularly in the liturgical life of the Church especially on Sunday’s and feasts, one will eventually die spiritually, having moved gradually further and further from the Source of life.
On a personal note, I’m very disappointed to have had to miss Liturgy both yesterday and today because my wife is ill and my daughter has chicken pox. Please pray for us!!!
In any case, as has been said, the tradition of the Byzantine East is not to emphasize the notion of “obligation.” That being said there is the understanding that if one does not participate regularly in the liturgical life of the Church especially on Sunday’s and feasts, one will eventually die spiritually, having moved gradually further and further from the Source of life.
On a personal note, I’m very disappointed to have had to miss Liturgy both yesterday and today because my wife is ill and my daughter has chicken pox. Please pray for us!!!
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UnionOfHearts
Guest
The Code does allow a lot of things to be decided by Particular Churches, for example Holy days of obligation and so on, but whether people like it or not, whoever it was written by it is the law of the church and it is binding. As for the idea of Canon Law being ‘the pirates code’, just no thats not the view of canon lawyers, the apostolic courts or The Holy See.
And Yes I most certainly will pray that your family will get better, though of course one should point out theres no question of any blame on your part as illness dispenses from the obligation.
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
The Code does allow a lot of things to be decided by Particular Churches, for example Holy days of obligation and so on, but whether people like it or not, whoever it was written by it is the law of the church and it is binding. As for the idea of Canon Law being ‘the pirates code’, just no thats not the view of canon lawyers, the apostolic courts or The Holy See.
And Yes I most certainly will pray that your family will get better, though of course one should point out theres no question of any blame on your part as illness dispenses from the obligation.
Thank you! My little family could certainly use all the prayers we can get. I was just mourning the fact that I couldn’t go to the DL today or yesterday (or on most other feast days for that matter). I’m not too worried about the obligation; God knows my heart is there at the Divine Liturgy even though my body can’t be there right now.
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Dorothy
Guest
You seem adamant about your stance about the heartfelt intentions of Catholics in attending Mass on days that are called “Holy Days of Obligation”. That is quite judgemental. Here at my parish this morning it was not designated as being a “Holy Day of Obligation” for the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother, and it was quite full.
While there may be some who are less generous in their thinking with regard to “obligations”, as there are in all rites, I see a great many who are happy to be there, and even go daily because they are in a position to.
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UnionOfHearts
Guest
:tiphat: Amen
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