Working Holy Days

[MartyLeo]

Dear all,

I came across the term “Working Holy Days” somewhere on the net, it states that when a holy day of obligation falls on a weekday, the faithful do not have to refrain from work.

Is it true that when a holy day of obligation falls on a weekday, the faithful can do paid work ??

I look forward to hearing from you.

Alan

 

[PeterT]

Holy Days of Obligation (when there’s no dispensation) is like a Sunday (with no dispensation), where work is permitted as long as it doesn’t interfere with your ability to attend a Mass.

In other words, you’re obligated to attend a Mass but you are also allowed to do work (as long as it doesn’t interfere with your ability to attend a Mass).

 

[MartyLeo]

Hello Peter,

What you said is not I learned from the Church. I was taught we should not do unnecessary work, regardless of whether it interferes my ability to attend Mass.
And what about “Working Holy Days”?
Thank you.

Martyleo

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Peter gave the correct Church teaching.

In the USA, unlike some other countries, people do not automatically get Holy Days of Obligation off from their jobs, and not everyone is able to arrange their work schedule or take a personal or vacation day off for the Holy Day.

The dioceses will usually either encourage churches to offer Masses at times when working people can attend (such as having a special evening Mass) or sometimes they transfer the holy day to a Sunday.

People are obligated to attend Mass, but they are not required to refrain from working at their paid job.

During my entire several decades of life as a Catholic, I have never known anyone from any parish who took a day off for the Holy Day of Obligation unless it was a day when most people in the USA are usually off work, like Christmas Day or New Years Day. Even on those days, some people, such as restaurant staff, medical personnel, and first responders might need to work.

 

[MartyLeo]

Does this apply to Australia also??

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s from the Universal Catechism of the Church, which would apply everywhere, including Australia.

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body…The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

“Hinder the worship owed to God” basically means you need to go to Mass.
Being expected to show up for your regular weekday job would be a “legitimate excuse” for not “refraining from engaging in work”, but you’d still be expected to attend Mass if one were available at a time you could reasonably go.

Also it’s my understanding that since 2001, Australia only has two Holy Days of Obligation (in addition to all the Sundays of the year), and those two are Christmas Day, which most people will have off work anyway, and the Assumption.

If you are still concerned about this I would suggest that you ask your priest.