HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES Diocese of Lafayette Office of Worship

In 1991-1992, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in the United States, with the confirmation of the Apostolic See in Rome, issued the following decree pertaining to Holy Days of Obligation for Latin rite Catholics in the United States:

In addition to Sundays, the days to be observed are as follows: The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on January 1 The Solemnity of the Ascension (see below) The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15 The Solemnity of All Saints on November 1 The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ on December 25

Below is additional information about the celebration of each of these solemnities:

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is celebrated on January 1. If it falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is suspended.

The Solemnity of the Ascension is celebrated on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. In 1991 the Ascension was designated to be celebrated on Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter. In 1999 permission to transfer the observance of the Solemnity of the Ascension to the Seventh Sunday of Easter was granted by the Holy See to the Ecclesiastical Provinces of the United States. The Bishops of the Province of New Orleans transferred the Solemnity to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, effective in the year 2000. The Diocese of Lafayette and all other dioceses in Louisiana now celebrate the Ascension on the Seventh Sunday of Easter each year.

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15. If it falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is suspended.

The Solemnity of All Saints is celebrated on November 1. If it falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is suspended.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on December 8. Even if the Immaculate Conception falls on a Monday or a Saturday, it is still a holy day of obligation. The only time the obligation to attend Mass for the Immaculate Conception is suspended is when December 8 falls on a Sunday. In that case, the observance of the Immaculate Conception is transferred to Monday, December 9, and the obligation to attend Mass is suspended.

The Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated on December 25. It is always a holy day of obligation.