Rest obligation and the Easter Octave

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Hi everyone,

I have a canon law question about the Easter Octave. In my understanding, the Octave is celebrated as a solemnity–that is, the solemnity of Easter extends for 8 days. Given that we are obligated to attend mass and refrain from servile work on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, are we obligated to refrain from unnecessary servile work during the Octave?

Relatedly, does suppressing a Holy Day of Obligation suppress the rest obligation as well? Most treatments of the subject seem to focus on the Mass attendance obligation–we aren’t required to attend Mass if the Holy Day is suppressed–but I’m not sure what the status of the rest obligation is in these cases.

Thanks!
 
Not all Solemnities are HDOs. The Octave of Easter contains two HDOs, Easter Sunday and Divine Mercy Sunday.

We should treat these days as different than regular days. Bring out the Easter decorations and eat chocolate!!
 
Divine Mercy Sunday is not a HDO in the US, it’s a Sunday obligation. The devotions related to Divine Mercy are not obligatory but Mass attendance is.
 
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No, it is not necessary to treat the days of the octave as Holy Days. Only the Octave day, which is a Sunday.
 
First of all Easter 2 (Octave and Divine Mercy) is not considered a Solemnity.

Secondly, all Sundays are considered Holy Days of Obligation, so to say that Divine Mercy Sunday is not a HDO, (just) a Sunday Obligation is really correct, but really incorrect at the same time.

The documents state it clearly when speaking of HDOs: All Sundays and …
 
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I guess I’m confused on the relationship between holy days of obligation and solemnities. Due to the US bishops’ decree, I understand that some solemnities are not HDOs in the US. As a consequence, we don’t have to attend Mass on those solemnities. However, I’m wondering whether the rest obligation follows the HDOs actually in force in a territory or whether it follows the 10 solemnities/HDOs in the universal church calendar.

For example, suppose you live in Vatican City where St Joseph is both a solemnity and a HDO (because Vatican City follows the universal calendar). Rest obligation is in effect. Now suppose you move to the US, where the US bishops have nullified the mass attendance obligation, so St. Joseph is no longer a HDO (but remains a solemnity). Does nullifying the mass attendance obligation also nullify the rest obligation, given that St. Joseph remains a solemnity and HDO in principle?

With respect to the Easter Octave, my understanding is that the entire Octave is a single liturgical unit of time that includes Easter. Since Easter is both a solemnity and a HDO, and the Octave amounts to the extension of Easter over 8 days, wouldn’t the two precepts attaching to Easter Sunday apply for the duration? You would easily meet the Mass attendance obligation by going to Mass on Easter, but what about the rest obligation?
 
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Sarpedon said:
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I guess I’m confused on the relationship between holy days of obligation and solemnities. Due to the US bishops’ decree, I understand that some solemnities are not HDOs in the US. As a consequence, we don’t have to attend Mass on those solemnities. However, I’m wondering whether the rest obligation follows the HDOs actually in force in a territory or whether it follows the 10 solemnities/HDOs in the universal church calendar.

For example, suppose you live in Vatican City where St Joseph is both a solemnity and a HDO (because Vatican City follows the universal calendar). Rest obligation is in effect. Now suppose you move to the US, where the US bishops have nullified the mass attendance obligation, so St. Joseph is no longer a HDO (but remains a solemnity). Does nullifying the mass attendance obligation also nullify the rest obligation, given that St. Joseph remains a solemnity and HDO in principle?

With respect to the Easter Octave, my understanding is that the entire Octave is a single liturgical unit of time that includes Easter. Since Easter is both a solemnity and a HDO, and the Octave amounts to the extension of Easter over 8 days, wouldn’t the two precepts attaching to Easter Sunday apply for the duration? You would easily meet the Mass attendance obligation by going to Mass on Easter, but what about the rest obligation?
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If suppressed then the entire observance is suppressed.

CIC
Can. 1246
§1. Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation. The following days must also be observed: the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension, the Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, and All Saints.
§2. With the prior approval of the Apostolic See, however, the conference of bishops can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.

Can. 1247
On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. Moreover, they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.
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And note that Canon 1247 does not use the term “servile work,” often cited here and seemingly a source of much misunderstanding.
 
The Liturgical Calendar for the US may be found here, it may help you understand the way the seasons work:


The Catechism uses the phrase “Sundays and other holy days of obligation”

Our hosts: What Are the Holy Days of Obligation? | Catholic Answers

And finally, Canon Law (read the link below and it explains which HDOs may be supressed, etc.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P4N.HTM

Can. 1246 §1. Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation.

Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.
 
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