Holy days of obligation - let no man judge you

[JoyToBeCatholic]

I’ve only been reconciled to the church a week (i think) and already i’ve got an issue, so please help me…

Col 2:16 says “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday…”

I don’t mean to doubt the church’s authority regarding this, but I need to understand just why we are obligated to observe holy days other than the Lord’s day which we are commanded by God to observe, and why we must attend a mass in order to fulfill the obligation.

Thank You

 

[NotWorthy]

If I’m correct, the “holydays” that Paul is talking about refers to Jewish Christians that held onto their beliefs. Paul allowed them this weakness, and asked the Christians as well as the Jewish Christians who had abandoned their traditions not to chastise them.

And as you mentioned, this is simply Church Discipline.

BTW, “Holy Day of Obligation” is one of my biggest pet peeves. I prefer to call them “Holy Days of Opportunity”. I mean who WOULDN’T want a chance to go to Mass and celebrate the Wedding Supper of the Lord.

 

[Newbie2]

BTW, “Holy Day of Obligation” is one of my biggest pet peeves. I prefer to call them “Holy Days of Opportunity”. I mean who WOULDN’T want a chance to go to Mass and celebrate the Wedding Supper of the Lord.

Yeah, “Obligation” sounds like having to go to math class.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

BTW, “Holy Day of Obligation” is one of my biggest pet peeves. I prefer to call them “Holy Days of Opportunity”. I mean who WOULDN’T want a chance to go to Mass and celebrate the Wedding Supper of the Lord.

But you have the OPPORTUNITY to go to Mass every day. You have the OBLIGATION to go to Mass on Sundays and particular holy days.

Last night I ranted a bit at RCIA. So many people skip holy days. You go to Mass and the church is not at all full, even though there are fewer Masses than there are on Sunday. But part of what makes us Catholic is not being limited by the secular calendar.

We don’t come together to pray and worship only on Sundays, but on other days that we recognize as special either throughout the world (like the Immaculate Conception), in the local area (such as the patron saint of the parish), or in our personal lives (such as our patron saints). What a wonderful opportunity to be in the world but not of the world, and to celebrate in our own very special way.

 

[NotWorthy]

But you have the OPPORTUNITY to go to Mass every day. You have the OBLIGATION to go to Mass on Sundays and particular holy days.

And I much prefer to go because I want to, not because I have to!!!

Last night I ranted a bit at RCIA. So many people skip holy days. You go to Mass and the church is not at all full, even though there are fewer Masses than there are on Sunday. But part of what makes us Catholic is not being limited by the secular calendar.

And I prefer to celebrate with those people that want to go, rather than those that have to go.

Of course, I give them the benefit of the doubt and assume every who’s there wants to be there, and everybody who isn’t there either can’t make it or went to another mass.

Yes, the weather is nice in my world. Why do you ask?

 

[JoyToBeCatholic]

If I’m correct, the “holydays” that Paul is talking about refers to Jewish Christians that held onto their beliefs. Paul allowed them this weakness, and asked the Christians as well as the Jewish Christians who had abandoned their traditions not to chastise them.

First off - thanks for that. That was what I was looking for.

Secondly, I called them Holy Days of Obligation b/c that is what the Church calls them. I do realize that going to mass is a privilege and in fact, I wish I could go to mass every day, but I cannot.

Regardless, that wasn’t the purpose of my asking. This was just one of the scripture passages that have always haunted me in my struggles with the faith that, since tomorrow is a Holy Day, happened to bring up the opportunity to learn more about.

If anyone else has some pertinent contribution to offer to my opening question, other than just that one, I’d appreciate it. As much as I agree with you all about “obligation” vs “opportunity”, please try to keep the focus on the scripture explanation.

Thanks

 

[NotWorthy]

Secondly, I called them Holy Days of Obligation b/c that is what the Church calls them. I do realize that going to mass is a privilege and in fact, I wish I could go to mass every day, but I cannot.

Yes, I know. I wasn’t trying to jump you for that phrase, for it certainly comes from a higher source than you or me .

As far as daily Mass, I have to use about 6-8 different churches in the area, but I’m able to catch more than I miss.

 

[Jaypeeto4]

Paul wasn’t talking about the disciplines enacted by competent authority in the Church. What the Church binds on earth will be bound in heaven.

Holy Days of Obligation are so that Christians will be strengthened as to true doctrines of our Faith, which going to church on these days emphasizes.

Incidentally, my conservative parish priest was telling me that some of the motives for instituting the Holy Days of Obligation as well as the former “Ember Days”, was justice-minded bishops in mideval Europe who felt that the working class should have more opportunities for prayer and relaxation than their working condition afforded and that therefore they pushed for “Ember Days” and “holy days of obligation” to be fairly frequent.

Today, it is nearly impossible for some people to fulfill a holy day of obligation. For me, it is almost always impossible because I work in an office downtown and either me or one of my co-workers ( who are not Catholic ) have to be at the phones at all times. I can’t leave the phones to go to Church at the Gesu Church in downtown Miami if one of my co-workers sneaks off for an early lunch, or doesn’t want to cover the phone while I go to church. I do, however, try to attend church on the H.D. of O’s because I really LOVE going to Mass more than just on Sunday!!

By the way, if you are sick or otherwise legitimately impeded from attending church on a H.D.of O., the church doesn’t consider that a defiant act of sin at all.

And my company would be more likely to give us time off with pay to attend a Gay Pride parade (which they encourage employees to participate in, but I WON’T) than to attend a special mass for a Holy Day of Obligation. How sick and twisted our Society has become.

Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+

 

[water]

I have a question please.

What if one could not attend mass today Dec 8 because he had to work? What does he have to do about this?

Thanks!

 

[Fred_4]

Yes the Church uses the word “obligation” instead of “opportunity” for a reason. It is an obligation to attend mass for the Immaculate Conception, just as it is for our Sunday obligation. That doesn’t mean that we need to look at it negatively.

I live in Chicago which perhaps makes it easier for me than for some others to fulfill these obligations. My parish had an anticipation Mass for IC Friday night. If I am working on a given day, it is impossible for me to attend mass that day. Therefore, I’m very thankful for the evening anticipation masses. In this case, however, I was working Friday and so went to Mass this morning. It is great to be able to celebrate these feasts!

 

[RobNY]

I’ve only been reconciled to the church a week (i think) and already i’ve got an issue, so please help me…

Col 2:16 says “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday…”

I don’t mean to doubt the church’s authority regarding this, but I need to understand just why we are obligated to observe holy days other than the Lord’s day which we are commanded by God to observe, and why we must attend a mass in order to fulfill the obligation.

Thank You

No individual simply as an individual has the authority to burden another Christian with extra obligations. The difference is between, I think, the authority of the individual as an individual, and the authority of an individual as a lawful representative of the Church. The former does not have the power to impose anything on any Christian-- Christian freedom remains when two Christians simply disagree in non-essentials (although Christian freedom can be abused as St. Paul also cautions), but the Church has the authority to ‘bind and loose’ (cf. Mt 16 and 18) regulations on the Christian people.

water-- I would think it would identical to what would happen if one were obligated to work on Sundays. But, in case you are unsure ask your pastor.

-Rob