Holy Days of Obligation

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Donna_P

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Hi,

My understanding is that we as Catholics are required to go to Mass at least once a year at Easter time. So why do we have Holy Days of Obligation? I believe it is a sin to miss a HD of O.
 
Donna,

Actually, we are required to go to confession and communion at least once a year (during the Easter season). We are required to go to Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

Deacon Ed
 
Deacon Ed:
Donna,

Actually, we are required to go to confession and communion at least once a year (during the Easter season). We are required to go to Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.

Deacon Ed
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To expand on what Deacon Ed said. Confession once a year needed if in a state of mortal sin. It is very unlikely that anyone who only goes to confession once a year will continue to remain in a state of grace.

matthew
 
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marty1818:
To expand on what Deacon Ed said. Confession once a year needed if in a state of mortal sin. It is very unlikely that anyone who only goes to confession once a year will continue to remain in a state of grace.

matthew
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I believe that confession once a year is a minimum even if you are not in mortal sin.

I do not make any further judgements, such as “It is very unlikely that anyone who only goes to confession once a year will continue to remain in a state of grace.”

As I can not tell the state of someone’s soul.
 
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ByzCath:
I believe that confession once a year is a minimum even if you are not in mortal sin.
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From the CLSA’s New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, for canon 989:
… Once that presumption [that the penitent has attained the use of reason] is fulfilled and the age of discretion is attained, if one then should commit a grave sin, the canon requires that he or she confess at least within a year. The failure of the earlier law to make clear that this obligation of annual confession is applicable only in the case of grave sins has now been corrected in the text of canon 989.
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Catholic2003:
From the CLSA’s New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, for canon 989:
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Yup, now that I read it, that is read Canon 989 as the only commentary that is authoritative would be from the Holy Father, I see that you are correct on that point but I stand by the rest of my reply.
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ByzCath:
I do not make any further judgements, such as “It is very unlikely that anyone who only goes to confession once a year will continue to remain in a state of grace.”

As I can not tell the state of someone’s soul.
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Even if someone never goes to confession, we can not tell the state of their soul.
 
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marty1818:
To expand on what Deacon Ed said. Confession once a year needed if in a state of mortal sin. It is very unlikely that anyone who only goes to confession once a year will continue to remain in a state of grace.

matthew
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I personally know of one or two Catholics (out of dozens) that go to confession once a year.

Peace
 
Donna P:
Hi,

My understanding is that we as Catholics are required to go to Mass at least once a year at Easter time. So why do we have Holy Days of Obligation? I believe it is a sin to miss a HD of O.
Click to expand...
A Catholic is obligated under pain of Mortal Sin to attend Mass every Sunday which is a day of Obligation and the special Holy Days of Obligation designated by the Bishops of a country or area. Unless excused for some valid reason.

Catholics are required to Confess any known Mortal sins during the Lenten season and receive Holy Communion at least once during the Easter Season. All Catholics are encouraged to receive Holy communion at every Mass they attend if in a state of Grace.
 
There is more to the requirements for Holy Days of Obligation than just attending Mass. It’s seems to be a common misconception, so I like to correct it whenever I see it.
 
Anyone ever wondered why they are called Days of Obligation when they could be called Days of Opportunity instead? The assumption of the negative seems unnecessary. Why not declare it for what it is…an opportunity?
 
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ByzCath:
I believe that confession once a year is a minimum even if you are not in mortal sin.

I do not make any further judgements, such as “It is very unlikely that anyone who only goes to confession once a year will continue to remain in a state of grace.”

As I can not tell the state of someone’s soul.
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I am not making any judgements on the soul of anyone, however the grace received in confession is a great deal of help in fighting against future sins. We are all sinners and will most likely fall from a state of grace at some point in our lives.

matthew
 
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Writer:
Anyone ever wondered why they are called Days of Obligation when they could be called Days of Opportunity instead? The assumption of the negative seems unnecessary. Why not declare it for what it is…an opportunity?
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Because you can freely pass on an opportunity, but not an obligation.
 
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Writer:
Anyone ever wondered why they are called Days of Obligation when they could be called Days of Opportunity instead? The assumption of the negative seems unnecessary. Why not declare it for what it is…an opportunity?
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Every day is a day of opportunity. Actually, now that I’m getting literal about things, every day is a holy day, as well.
 
The obligation for confession, at least,once a year (if one is in the state of mortal sin) is not a part of the Easter Duty, which is, that after one receives his first Holy Communion, he/she must go to communion at least once a year, DURRING THE EASTER SEASON, (from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost Sunday). The obligation for confession can be any time of the year, but should be as soon after one commits the mortal sin as possible.

As far as the Sunday mass obligation: most of us need that little push to make sure we continue to take a day to worship our Lord. Without the obligation we tend to get complacent. Just think of how many people that you know who don’t take the time to vist, or call, or write to thier parents - even months and years at a time. Not because they don’t love them, but because it’s not a priority. The obligation that the Church places on us reminds us that worshiping God is THEE priority. How many tend to FORGET(?) that there is also a rule of NO SERVILE WORK on Sundays?
 
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DJJG:
How many tend to FORGET(?) that there is also a rule of NO SERVILE WORK on Sundays?
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Technically speaking there is no such rule. The rule is for Holy Days of Obligation, which is the superset that contains Sundays. We are equally obliged to avoid such labor on All Saints Day (November 1), for example, regardless of the day of the week that it falls on.
 
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