holy days of obligation

[schulze43]

Why do we have holy days of obligation? and where does the teaching that by missing a holy day of obligation or a Sunday mass without good reason you commit a mortal sin come from?

 

[fish90]

From the Catechism,

2042 The first precept (“You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor”) requires the faithful to sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord as well as the principal liturgical feasts honoring the mysteries of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints; in the first place, by participating in the Eucharistic celebration, in which the Christian community is gathered, and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.82

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c3a3.htm

Best,
fish90

 

[cctabb]

Why do we have holy days of obligation? and where does the teaching that by missing a holy day of obligation or a Sunday mass without good reason you commit a mortal sin come from?

Why do we have Holy Days of Obligation? Well, there are some things that are simply too important to let pass by without remembrance. If you know what the days are and why they are feasts of the church then you may not mind so much taking an hour out of your daily schedule to attend mass.

January 1 - Mary, the Mother of God Without Mary’s fiat (see my quote below) the birth of our Lord and Savior would not have been possible.

May 13 - the Ascension - Which occurred 40 days after the Resurrection This is sometimes moved to the Sunday following in the U.S.

August 15 - the Assumption of Mary

November 1 - All Saints Day

December 8 - the Immaculate Conception - which celebrates Mary’s conception, not Jesus’

December 25 - The Nativity of Jesus

And personally I treat Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday (Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem), Holy Thursday (the day Jesus gave us the Mass at the Last Supper) and Good Friday (the day Jesus Died) as days of obligation even though they are not normally in the U.S.

As for the teaching that missing Holy Days of Obligation being a mortal sin, it falls under the 4th Commandment. Depending on the intent missing a non-Sunday holy day could actually be a venial sin. One would have to discuss it with one’s priest.

P.S. I did not explain the feast and solemnities specifically for you. There are still people who believe the Immaculate Conception is the conception of Jesus.

 

[japhy]

Why do we have holy days of obligation? and where does the teaching that by missing a holy day of obligation or a Sunday mass without good reason you commit a mortal sin come from?

We have holy days of obligation (which are Sundays and certain other solemnities and feasts) because it is the nature of man to not do something unless he has to!

Seriously, though, we are bound (within reason) to attend Mass on certain days because of the importance of the mystery of the faith being celebrated on that day. Every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord – they are “little Easters” in the week. Other holy days of obligation commemorate feasts of our Lord, His Blessed Mother, and other angels and saints of great importance to the whole Catholic Church (or at least to a particular region).

It is a mortal sin to skip Mass on such days because you are neglecting your duty as a Catholic to worship God with the whole Body of Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Personal and private worship of God is great, but it does not replace or supplant the corporate (“bodily”) worship of God by the whole Church, of which you are a member.

 

[choy]

Why do we have holy days of obligation? and where does the teaching that by missing a holy day of obligation or a Sunday mass without good reason you commit a mortal sin come from?

also, remember that mortal sin doesn’t only separate us from God, it separates us from His Church

missing going to mass when it is required would form a separation from the Church, that is why it is a grave sin

and as my parish priest would say, if we don’t eat for a day our stomach would grumble. doesn’t our soul feel the same hunger if we don’t receive the Eucharist at least once a week?

 

[schulze43]

thanks all for your help

 

[O_Duirnin]

Can anyone explain why Holy Days of Obligation are different in different countries. I can understand that addition of a patronal saint - for example, St Patrick’s Day as a Holy Day of Obligation in Ireland, but other than that, the system confuses me.

For those who are curious, the Holy Days of Obligation in Scotland are:

13th May - The solemnity of the Ascension
29th June - The solemnity of St Peter & St Paul, Apostles
15th August - The solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
1st November - The solemnity of All Saints
25th December - The solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ