Uh-oh... I remembered late that it's a holy day!

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I remembered “late” that today is the Feast of the Annunciation, a holy day of obligation. As soon as I remembered, I went to find a Mass somewhere close to me, even if it’s not my home parish. Oddly, I was not able to find a single schedule for the holy day at ANY of the 4 nearby parishes I checked.

I did see that my home parish had a 10 am Mass, but by the time I discovered that, about 15 minutes before start time, it was too late for me to get a bus. I don’t drive, so I have to get there in other ways. It is too far to walk in the time I had (it’s 4 miles to my home parish-- no way can I walk 4 miles in 15 minutes), and I couldn’t get a cab in time. I asked my husband for a ride and he wouldn’t agree-- an ABSOLUTE “NO”. My bike is in the shop for a major tune-up so it’s not available, or else I’d happily cycle there. I have a Catholic neighbor who would have GLADLY gone with me, but her car is not running. I know it sounds like lots of “excuses”, but I swear it’s the truth. Basically, I was without any means to get to church for 10 am Mass, and I cannot find anything at the other nearby churches.

I have said a Rosary and several other Marian prayers, I reflected on the Gospel reading for today, I read the other readings, and I even offered a private hymn. I know that this isn’t the same as the obligation of attending Mass, but I wanted to at least offer prayers and spend the time reflecting on this blessed event. I am also going to Adoration shortly.

Now, my home parish has a 5 pm Mass, but I think that it would be the Sunday readings, not the Annunciation. I am also going to my usual Mass tomorrow morning.

If I go to the 5 pm Mass this evening, even though it would be the Sunday readings… if I reflect on the Annunciation during that Mass-- would it still count for the Holy Day? I feel as though I made a solid and sincere effort to get to the “correct” Mass for the day, and I didn’t deliberately forget or ignore my obligation. I was just stymied at every turn: no schedule, no transportation, no way to get to "any’ Mass at the right time (so far). I sincerely want to fulfill my obligation.

Am I “in trouble”… have I sinned? (I am going to Confession this afternoon before 5 pm Mass.)

Thanks, y’all…

~Spoken4
 
I don’t think it’s a Holy day.

The Feast of the Immaculate conception is.

Also the Feast of the Assumption.

But I don’t think the Annunciation is.
 
Spoken4 said:
I remembered “late” that today is the Feast of the Annunciation, a holy day of obligation. As soon as I remembered, I went to find a Mass somewhere close to me, even if it’s not my home parish. Oddly, I was not able to find a single schedule for the holy day at ANY of the 4 nearby parishes I checked.
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The Solemnity of the Annunciation is not a Holy Day of Obligation – Neither in the Universal Calendar nor in the USA (including Texas).

tee
 
Mary_Gail_36 said:
I don’t think it’s a Holy day.

The Feast of the Immaculate conception is.

Also the Feast of the Assumption.

But I don’t think the Annunciation is.
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You’re right! I really thought it was a holy day of obligation! I knew of the others… but I guess I added an “extra”. Shucks, I should know better-- I do this every year, silly me. “Blame” it on my love of Our Blessed Mother. ❤️ That, and my stubborn thinking that “Solemnity=Highest rank=obligation”.

I guess it’s better to think it’s a holy day of obligation and make the effort, even if it’s in error… than to miss a day altogether, whether on purpose or accidentally. :o

Thanks for the kick in the “faith”, Mary Gail and “Tee”… ha ha!

~Spoken4
 
A further point, based on what you said about readings. The readings and texts of the Mass do not matter when it comes to fulfilling an obligation (there was no obligation for the Annunciation anyway, as others have pointed out). The law requires attendance at a valid Catholic rite, not the readings for the day of precept. You could attend an Extraordinary Form Mass or a Byzantine Divine Liturgy and still fulfill your obligation, even though readings and sometimes whole liturgical days would vary greatly.

-Fr ACEGC
 
edward_george said:
A further point, based on what you said about readings. The readings and texts of the Mass do not matter when it comes to fulfilling an obligation (there was no obligation for the Annunciation anyway, as others have pointed out). The law requires attendance at a valid Catholic rite, not the readings for the day of precept. You could attend an Extraordinary Form Mass or a Byzantine Divine Liturgy and still fulfill your obligation, even though readings and sometimes whole liturgical days would vary greatly.

-Fr ACEGC
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Ahhh… see, I never knew this, despite being a lifelong Catholic. I thought it had to be “that Mass with the appropriate Scripture”. See, this helps me tremendously and gives me many more options since I don’t drive. Had I known, I could have made the EF Mass, even though it wasn’t required. Going to Mass is never a bad thing!

Thanks for setting me straight, y’all… now, let’s see if I remember this next year!
 
Sorry to multi-post… but I am really surprised that, being a solemnity and having the significance that it does… that the Annunciation is NOT a holy day of obligation. Perhaps that’s why I keep thinking that it is.

I wonder why this is the case, given that the Annunciation is so prominently outlined in the Gospels and is the theme of the Angelus. We seem to put a great deal of focus on the Annunciation, and for good reason-- it’s an example of full obedience to God. Mary had free will, and she could very well have said, “Um… you want me to do WHAT, now? Get pregnant… are you for real? No thanks!” Joseph could have easily stood by his initial decision to leave Mary, even after the angel appeared in his dream, but he didn’t. He obeyed the Word of God as spoken by the angel in that dream. This is a day where we not only honor the conception of Our Lord Jesus Christ-- but Mary’s devotion and obedience to God’s Will. Mary gave herself COMPLETELY to God, spiritually and physically, body, mind and heart.

Not only did Mary obey, but she trusted Our Lord God. She said YES to Him, and YES to life. That’s huge. This is a day when we should be mindful of our own obedience and trust in God. That’s why I don’t quite understand why the Annunciation isn’t a day of obligation, and perhaps why I keep thinking that it is.

Forgive me, all… 🙂
 
Don’t most churches in your are have a Saturday/vigil mass? Even though it’s not obligatory, you could still attend if you wanted to do so!
 
So if a Holy Day of Obligation was on Saturday, could Ingo to the vigil Mass for Sunday and it would count for both? I only ask because it is at least an hour’s drive one way to the church.
 
US ONLY:Holy Days of Obligation
Christmas (Dec 25) Ascension (Thursday Sixth Week of Easter)
Mary Mother of God (Jan 1) Immaculate Conception (Dec 8)
Assumption (Aug 15) All Saints (Nov 1)

A holy day of obligation on a Monday or a Saturday: the Sunday Obligation will cover it
The only 3 affected are:
January 1, Mary Mother of God August 15, Assumption November 1, All Saints

I most parts of the US (maybe all) the Saturday vigil is the same as going on Sunday.

Hope this helps!
 
Spoken4 said:
I remembered “late” that today is the Feast of the Annunciation, a holy day of obligation. As soon as I remembered, I went to find a Mass somewhere close to me, even if it’s not my home parish. Oddly, I was not able to find a single schedule for the holy day at ANY of the 4 nearby parishes I checked.

I did see that my home parish had a 10 am Mass, but by the time I discovered that, about 15 minutes before start time, it was too late for me to get a bus. I don’t drive, so I have to get there in other ways. It is too far to walk in the time I had (it’s 4 miles to my home parish-- no way can I walk 4 miles in 15 minutes), and I couldn’t get a cab in time. I asked my husband for a ride and he wouldn’t agree-- an ABSOLUTE “NO”. My bike is in the shop for a major tune-up so it’s not available, or else I’d happily cycle there. I have a Catholic neighbor who would have GLADLY gone with me, but her car is not running. I know it sounds like lots of “excuses”, but I swear it’s the truth. Basically, I was without any means to get to church for 10 am Mass, and I cannot find anything at the other nearby churches.

I have said a Rosary and several other Marian prayers, I reflected on the Gospel reading for today, I read the other readings, and I even offered a private hymn. I know that this isn’t the same as the obligation of attending Mass, but I wanted to at least offer prayers and spend the time reflecting on this blessed event. I am also going to Adoration shortly.

Now, my home parish has a 5 pm Mass, but I think that it would be the Sunday readings, not the Annunciation. I am also going to my usual Mass tomorrow morning.

If I go to the 5 pm Mass this evening, even though it would be the Sunday readings… if I reflect on the Annunciation during that Mass-- would it still count for the Holy Day? I feel as though I made a solid and sincere effort to get to the “correct” Mass for the day, and I didn’t deliberately forget or ignore my obligation. I was just stymied at every turn: no schedule, no transportation, no way to get to "any’ Mass at the right time (so far). I sincerely want to fulfill my obligation.

Am I “in trouble”… have I sinned? (I am going to Confession this afternoon before 5 pm Mass.)

Thanks, y’all…

~Spoken4
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The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church observes the Annunciation of the Theotokos and Even Virgin Mary as a serious obligation. It is one of the twelve great feasts. It is not observed as an obligation in all eastern Catholic sui iuris churches however.
 
St_Francis said:
So if a Holy Day of Obligation was on Saturday, could Ingo to the vigil Mass for Sunday and it would count for both? I only ask because it is at least an hour’s drive one way to the church.
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No. You cannot make Mass “count” twice. That is a silly legalistic approach to the Catholic faith.
 
Mary_Gail_36 said:
I don’t think it’s a Holy day.
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That’s what I immediately thought of when I saw the thread title. (Glad to see I was right so I don’t need to scramble to change my plans. :))

But now that we’re talking about it, let me throw this out for discussion: has it ever been?

After all the Incarnation is pretty major wrt our faith.
 
Crusaderbear said:
US ONLY:Holy Days of Obligation
Christmas (Dec 25) Ascension (Thursday Sixth Week of Easter)
Mary Mother of God (Jan 1) Immaculate Conception (Dec 8)
Assumption (Aug 15) All Saints (Nov 1)

A holy day of obligation on a Monday or a Saturday: the Sunday Obligation will cover it
The only 3 affected are:
January 1, Mary Mother of God August 15, Assumption November 1, All Saints

I most parts of the US (maybe all) the Saturday vigil is the same as going on Sunday.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...
I am not sure about The Ascension being a Holy Day of Obligation any more. I think most churches shift the Celebration to the following Sunday.
 
KevinAK said:
I am not sure about The Ascension being a Holy Day of Obligation any more. I think most churches shift the Celebration to the following Sunday.
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That’s what they do here. Certain other Feasts can be transferred or even abolished with 2/3 approval of the bishops of the respective Ecclesiastical Province. Here’s the word from the USCCB (applicable to the U.S.-- other places may have different ‘rules’).
SUBSEQUENT ACTION: Canon 1246, §2
In accord with the provisions of canon 1246, §2 of the Code of Canon Law, which states: “… the conference of bishops can abolish certain holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday with prior approval of the Apostolic See,” the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States decrees that the Ecclesiastical Provinces of the United States may transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter to the Seventh Sunday of Easter according to the following procedure.
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The decision of each Ecclesiastical Province to transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension is to be made by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the bishops of the respective Ecclesiastical Province. The decision of the Ecclesiastical Province should be communicated to the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and to the President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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This decree was approved by His Holiness Pope John Paul II by a decree of the Congregation for Bishops signed by His Eminence Lucas Cardinal Moreira Neves, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and dated July 5, 1999.
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As President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, I hereby decree that the effective date of this decree for all the Latin Rite dioceses of the United States of America will be September 8, 1999, Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary.
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Given at the offices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC, August 6, 1999, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
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Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza
Bishop of Galveston-Houston
President, NCCB
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Reverend Monsignor Dennis M. Schnurr
General Secretary
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Wow, I learned something new today! I guess that “Faith Formation” and Catechism are life-long things… or they SHOULD be! I know lots of things about my beloved faith, but I don’t know everything… 🙂
 
KevinAK said:
I am not sure about The Ascension being a Holy Day of Obligation any more. I think most churches shift the Celebration to the following Sunday.
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It is still of obligation in the US. In dioceses that keep Ascension Thursday, it is a day of obligation. If it is kept on Sunday, all Sundays are of obligation. So either way so is the solemnity of the Ascension.
 
It is a HOLY day (just*not of obligation). It is a Solleminty with the Gloria and the Creed. It is a very important day.
 
Spoken4 said:
Sorry to multi-post… but I am really surprised that, being a solemnity and having the significance that it does… that the Annunciation is NOT a holy day of obligation. Perhaps that’s why I keep thinking that it is.

I wonder why this is the case, given that the Annunciation is so prominently outlined in the Gospels and is the theme of the Angelus. We seem to put a great deal of focus on the Annunciation, and for good reason-- it’s an example of full obedience to God. Mary had free will, and she could very well have said, “Um… you want me to do WHAT, now? Get pregnant… are you for real? No thanks!” Joseph could have easily stood by his initial decision to leave Mary, even after the angel appeared in his dream, but he didn’t. He obeyed the Word of God as spoken by the angel in that dream. This is a day where we not only honor the conception of Our Lord Jesus Christ-- but Mary’s devotion and obedience to God’s Will. Mary gave herself COMPLETELY to God, spiritually and physically, body, mind and heart.

Not only did Mary obey, but she trusted Our Lord God. She said YES to Him, and YES to life. That’s huge. This is a day when we should be mindful of our own obedience and trust in God. That’s why I don’t quite understand why the Annunciation isn’t a day of obligation, and perhaps why I keep thinking that it is.

Forgive me, all… 🙂
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It is definitely a very important feast…but keep in mind that the mystery of the incarnation is also celebrated on Christmas, exactly 9 months later. Of course the focus is different…but both feasts reflect on the great mystery of the Word made flesh.
 
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