Rules re: Holy Days of Obligation when travelling

[Soler]

When abroad, what days of obligation apply?

Is it:

1. Those holy days prescribed in one’s own country
2. Those prescribed in the country where one is staying
3. The basic, unmodified Vatican list
4. Any combination of the above.

Thanks.

 

[tee_eff_em]

When abroad, what days of obligation apply?

Is it:

1. Those holy days prescribed in one’s own country
2. Those prescribed in the country where one is staying
3. The basic, unmodified Vatican list
4. Any combination of the above.

Thanks.

By my reading, a traveller is bound by a combination of 2 and 3 – That is: He is obligated to assist at Mass on those days prescribed by the universal law (the Vatican) which obligations are retained in his current location. But he is bound to neither: (i) the universal holy days retained in his home but not retained in his destination nor (ii) particular holy days beyond the universal ones (eg St Swithpurgis the Fictional, patron of either country).

This [post=6079900]recent post[/post] quotes most of the canonical backing. it fails to quote Can 13 §2.2, which I read as exempting the particular holy days:

Can. 13 §2. Travelers are not bound:

2/ by the laws of the territory in which they are present, with the exception of those laws which provide for public order, which determine the formalities of acts, or which regard immovable goods located in the territory.

Finally, NB that Canon Law has a specific definition of *traveller *(Can 100) – Holy day obligations are different if you are something other than a traveller.

tee
Who is Not A Canon Lawyer

 

[Palatinus]

You are not bound to local days of obligation unless you live there for five years (canon law calls this a domicile) or remain somewhere for three months as a traveler (quasi domicile). You are, however, bound by your home diocese’s days of obligation even if they are not days of obligation in the country you are in. For a full run down, see canonlawmadeeasy.com/2008/05/22/holydays-of-obligation/

 

[ProVobis]

You are not bound to local days of obligation unless you live there for five years (canon law calls this a domicile) or remain somewhere for three months as a traveler (quasi domicile). You are, however, bound by your home diocese’s days of obligation even if they are not days of obligation in the country you are in. For a full run down, see canonlawmadeeasy.com/2008/05/22/holydays-of-obligation/

Interesting, as no doubt that country where the obligation has been removed, will probably only have one daily Mass at the closest church if that much. But I’ll take the website’s word for it.

 

[Palatinus]

You’re right, some places might not have mass for a day of obligation, but then I think you follow the rules regarding unavailability of mass and make a spiritual communion. I am traveling to Germany (from the US) and just noticed that there is a holy day of obligation on Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 (Gebotener Feiertag in German). By canon law, I am only ‘obligated’ to attend Christmas mass Dec. 25 or the vigil the day before. When traveling, it can sometimes be tricky to get to mass as often as one would like. Also, the rule makes sense. What if you traveled through a dozen countries on a trip? It would be hard to keep track!

 

[dans0622]

Interesting, as no doubt that country where the obligation has been removed, will probably only have one daily Mass at the closest church if that much. But I’ll take the website’s word for it.

I wouldn’t do that. The author seems to have neglected to take into account canon 13. A (USA resident) traveler to another country is not bound to observe the US Holy Days (canon 13.2.1).

Dan

 

[ProVobis]

I wouldn’t do that. The author seems to have neglected to take into account canon 13. A (USA resident) traveler to another country is not bound to observe the US Holy Days (canon 13.2.1).

Dan

Thanks for that. I seem to recall Fr. Z’s mention of it as well. That it usually favors the traveler when there are conflicting observances of the feast in question.

 

[SMHW]

I wouldn’t do that. The author seems to have neglected to take into account canon 13. A (USA resident) traveler to another country is not bound to observe the US Holy Days (canon 13.2.1).

Dan

When you think of it, it would be crazy for the Church to expect travelers to have an obligation to attend Mass when traveling if their home location had no obligation (even if the day was on the universal calendar.)

It’s been my experience that American Catholics are largely unfamiliar with the days of obligation at home let alone days of obligation elsewhere. I would imagine that Catholics in other nations are probably often similarly ignorant.

Likewise, travelers are not bound to observe days of obligation which are not days of obligation in their current location.

The reason the Church has rules about travelers is to protect travelers from sinning due to ignorance and/or considerable inconvenience.

 

[Palatinus]

So the rule is if it is a day of obligation in BOTH your home diocese and current location, then you need to go (assuming there is a church in the vicinity)?