Holy Days

[caille]

Will someone please explain to me how a “Holy Day” can be declared not a Holy Day in some places, or the obligation transferred to the next weekend? Maybe it’s just my old Protestant background rearing up again, but this doesn’t make sense to me. Either it’s a Holy Day for everyone, or it isn’t.
Is it just a matter of the local priest’s discretion? A non-catholic friend said this sort of thing would make him question how attending mass on any day could be considered obligatory when days of obligation can differ from parish to parish. Thanks for your responses!
Caille

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I don’t disagree at all. I am from Nebraska where the Ascension Thursday is actually on Thursday and not shifted to the next Sunday i.e. May 20.

At my parish it was full and so I really cannot understand either why they do not leave it on Thursday. It is not requiring too much…IMO…to epexct us to go to Mass on that Holy day. It is not like we have dozens we have to attend. Besides, I took notice of all the varied times available throughout the parishes here in town and there was a Mass available for about anyone I think, to fit into their schedule.

:heart:Blyss

 

[stbruno]

Here’s the link from the US Catholic Council of bishops that explains why this is allowed. Hope it helps!
usccb.org/norms/1246.htm

 

[Titus]

Will someone please explain to me how a “Holy Day” can be declared not a Holy Day in some places, or the obligation transferred to the next weekend? Maybe it’s just my old Protestant background rearing up again, but this doesn’t make sense to me. Either it’s a Holy Day for everyone, or it isn’t.
Is it just a matter of the local priest’s discretion? A non-catholic friend said this sort of thing would make him question how attending mass on any day could be considered obligatory when days of obligation can differ from parish to parish. Thanks for your responses!
Caille

It’s never up to the individual pastor, but rather the conference of bishops. For you, it’s the USCCB. However, I believe individual ***dioceses ***are also allowed to retain or transfer Holy Days.

 

[jpjd]

Either it’s a Holy Day for everyone, or it isn’t.

It is a Holy Day for everyone. It’s just that for some dioceses, it’s observed or celebrated on Sunday instead of Thursday. That means it’s not just another Sunday of the Easter season. It has Ascension Day readings, psalm, homily, etc.

As part of the authority of binding and loosing, the bishops have been given the authority to move the observance to Sunday, if they find it fitting.

 

[maryjk]

Someone on another thread used this to explain.

Think of your birthday. A couple of years ago, mine was on a Wednesday. Now Wednesday was my birthday, and I had cake and a special dinner with my husband and son. But on Saturday, my parents, sister and her family and a couple of friends came over to celebrate my birthday. It didn’t change when my birthday fell, we just moved the celebration to Saturday so everyone could be there.