Why isn’t Today a Holy Day of Obligation?

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Today (the Solemnity of the Annunciation) marks the day the “Word Became Flesh”, which the most radical doctrine of the Catholic Church and one the most pivotal moments in salvation history, why is this not a Holy Day of Obligation?
 
Probably because we already have a holy day of obligation devoted to the Incarnation.
 
IanS said:
Today (the Solemnity of the Annunciation) marks the day the “Word Became Flesh”, which the most radical doctrine of the Catholic Church and one the most pivotal moments in salvation history, why is this not a Holy Day of Obligation?
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I believe it’s because they have made holidays which fall on a Monday, not to be a day of obligation, being people just attended Mass the day before.

Jim
 
IanS said:
Today (the Solemnity of the Annunciation) marks the day the “Word Became Flesh”, which the most radical doctrine of the Catholic Church and one the most pivotal moments in salvation history, why is this not a Holy Day of Obligation?
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I agree. I think in the Eastern Church, the Annunciation does not supersede Sunday when it falls on a Sunday. I think they should have done something to make this Solemnity recognized.
 
So what about when it is not on a Sunday or Monday. Isn’t it usually on March 25th?
 
This Solemnity has not been a Holy Day of Obligation for centuries. I think it has to do with it falling during Lent and sometimes being forced to be observed later because of Holy Week and Easter Week.
 
I don’t know about the possible history of the Annunciation as a day of obligation, but its nonobservance as such in the present day has nothing to do with this year’s accident of falling on a Sunday in Lent - the Annunciation is simply not a holy day of obligation:

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.

Since it’s not a day of obligation, the only people we have to blame for not making a big hullabaloo about it would be ourselves. The whole reason it is celebrated on the 26th this year is precisely to enable us to observe it, so take advantage.
 
…And the enumeration of the Solemnity of St Joseph among the universal holy days of obligation implies that sometimes-falling-during-Lent has nothing to do with the Annunciation’s lack of obligation.

🤓
tee
 
I just got back from Mass, it was wonderful. The church I went to is also has a Benedictine Priory, so of course, it was celebrated beautifully.

I agree that if it was a Holy Day of Obligation, people still wouldn’t show up, but since when is the Church a democracy? It’s about giving these panicle moments in salvation history the respect they are due. Not that I’m ready to write to the Vatican, just something that has always bothered me, considering the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation (as it well should be).
 
Simply stated, feast days are only Holy Days of Obligation by discipline of church law-- not by doctrine. So, they are determined by the authority of the Bishops.

Which feast days are Holy Days of Obligation have changed continually from the beginning of the Church both for the universal church and for particular countries.

Here’s a good article:

catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=1371
 
Andreas_Hofer said:
I don’t know about the possible history of the Annunciation as a day of obligation, but its nonobservance as such in the present day has nothing to do with this year’s accident of falling on a Sunday in Lent - the Annunciation is simply not a holy day of obligation:

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.
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In some countries, there are additional Holy Days of Obligation. For example, in Ireland, St. Patrick is a Holy Day.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Day_of_Obligation
 
eparhia.onego.ru/sedmica.htm
(can translate to English using soft program of computer. Lists 12 Most important Holidays, Great Holidays, Celebratory Weeks, Long Fasts, Short fasts for 2007)

aNNUNciation in Orthodox called Good-News. Is one of the Twelve Most important feasts listed above. On this day we have tradition made famous by Aleksandr Pushkin, beloved Russian language poet. Birds are released to be free on this day to show freedom brought to us by salvation of Iesus Christ. Below we see Patriarch celebration such Annunciation liturgy and then releasing small birds:


 
BobP123 said:
In some countries, there are additional Holy Days of Obligation. For example, in Ireland, St. Patrick is a Holy Day.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Day_of_Obligation
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Touche. I intended more, though, to point out that a particular church can’t really be faulted for not making extra days obligatory. Maybe I want the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist made obligatory, but I shouldn’t really be scandalized if my bishop (or province, conference, etc.) fails to do this.
 
Volodymyr said:
eparhia.onego.ru/sedmica.htm
(can translate to English using soft program of computer. Lists 12 Most important Holidays, Great Holidays, Celebratory Weeks, Long Fasts, Short fasts for 2007)

aNNUNciation in Orthodox called Good-News. Is one of the Twelve Most important feasts listed above. On this day we have tradition made famous by Aleksandr Pushkin, beloved Russian language poet. Birds are released to be free on this day to show freedom brought to us by salvation of Iesus Christ. Below we see Patriarch celebration such Annunciation liturgy and then releasing small birds:

Милосердие.ru - Православный портал о благотворительности
Милосердие.ru - Православный портал о благотворительности
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Wow, that’s really beautiful!
 
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