Holy Days of Obligation 2012
Every Sunday is considered a day of obligation in the Catholic faith;
and the faithful are called to worship at Mass every Sunday.
Other particular days celebrating feasts of the Lord or the Blessed Mother
are considered days of obligation.
On these days, the faithful are called to worship at Mass,
even if the feast does not fall on a Sunday.
Easter is considered a particular day of obligation for all Catholics.
In the United States, the obligation to attend Mass is suspended,
when a Holy Day falls on a Saturday or a Monday.
Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
Sunday, January 1st
The solemnity recognizes Mary as the Mother of Our Lord.
Masses will be 5PM anticipated on December 31st and
7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 6:00PM on January 1st.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 8th
Though not considered Holy Days of Obligation,
the Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday
(celebration of Easter Vigil) – are among the holiest of the Liturgical Year.
This year those three days fall on
April 5th/6th/7th.
Feast of the Ascension
Sunday, May 20th
Traditionally celebrated on Thursday, some dioceses in the United States
commemorate this feast on the following Sunday.
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is among those.
It is considered a day of obligation for those dioceses who celebrate it on Thursday.
Feast of the Assumption of Mary
Wednesday, August 15th
This feast celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Mother into heaven.
Feast of All Saints
Thursday, November 1st
This feast celebrates all of the saints in heaven,
both those canonized and recognized by the Church
and all those in the presence of God whose holy lives are not known to all.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Sunday, December 8th
This feast commemorates God’s preparation of Mary
to be the Mother of Jesus at her conception.
Since Mary as the Immaculate Conception is the
Patroness of the United States,
this feast is always a Holy Day of Obligation,
except when it falls on a Sunday, when the liturgies of the Sunday prevail.
In that event, the feast is celebrated on the Monday immediately following.
Christmas
Tuesday, December 25th
This feast commemorating the Nativity of the Lord is always
a Holy Day of Obligation and is the prevailing liturgy on this date.
There are other feasts and commemorations which are of importance
that are not Holy Days of Obligation.
Some are so because they always fall on a Sunday.
Included among them are:
Feast of the Epiphany
Celebrated in the United States on
Sunday, January 8th
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 22nd
The First Sunday of Lent will be
Sunday, February 26th
Pentecost
Sunday, May 27th
Holy Trinity
Sunday, June 3rd
Corpus Christi … Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
Sunday, June 10th
Feast of All Souls
Friday, November 2nd
Feast of Christ the King
Sunday, November 25th
The First Sunday of Advent will be
Sunday, December 2nd