What are the Holy Days of Obligation?

Response

The Holy Days of Obligation are specific times, designated by the Roman Catholic Church, when believers are required to attend Mass. On these days, Catholics are also expected to refrain from work or any activities that prevent them from resting and honoring God.

As outlined in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, there are ten Holy Days of Obligation. In the United States, Catholics must observe six of these ten: the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; the Ascension of the Lord; the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; All Saints’ Day; the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; and Christmas. Sundays and holy days that coincide with Sundays (such as Easter) have their own regulations and are not officially part of the Holy Days of Obligation. While Christmas and the Ascension of Jesus are rooted in biblical events, the other days are based solely on tradition and may not align with biblical teachings.

The concept of designated days, where worshipers are expected to follow specific rituals or customs, originates from either the Mosaic Law or pagan practices. It is essential to recognize that the New Testament does not mandate the observance of particular days. This does not imply that celebrating holidays is inappropriate or sinful; rather, it emphasizes that believers are not compelled to observe holidays. The Holy Days of Obligation should not be viewed as compulsory.

Paul highlights the diversity in beliefs regarding the sanctity of certain days. He advises that individuals who regard a day as sacred should act in accordance with their conscience and be fully convinced in their own convictions “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.”, (Romans 14:5). Abstaining from work onOn a Saturday or Sunday, one might fall into this category. Resting on the Sabbath was part of the Mosaic Law, which was fulfilled in Christ. He is now our Sabbath rest «There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. », (Hebrews 4:9). Therefore, taking a break from work on Saturday or Sunday is not obligatory. However, if one chooses to rest from work on the weekend, there is nothing wrong with that.

The issue with the Holy Days of Obligation, as with much of Catholic teaching, is that they are utilized as a means of obtaining grace. In other words, grace must be earned through our works. The biblical teaching is that God’s grace is free— it is unmerited favor. In fact, any effort to earn salvation undermines the concept of grace entirely: “If by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace” «And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. », (Romans 11:6). Another issue is the days dedicated to the veneration of Mary and the false doctrines associated with her.

In Galatians 4:10–11, Paul expresses concern for the Galatians regarding their observance of days, months, seasons, and years. In context, we see that Paul is worried about the Galatian church slipping into legalism after experiencing the freedom of Christ. He is frustrated knowing that they are once again ensnared by the idea of a works-based righteousness, and he passionately reminds them that salvation is by faith alone apart from the works of the law (Galatians 3:1-10). Evidently, the Galatians believed that observing holy days was essential for salvation— they were marking their calendars with their own “Holy

Days of Obligation.”

Observing the Holy Days of Obligation cannot secure a person’s salvation. If the observance of any holy day becomes a task upon which one’s salvation depends, that observance has turned into an obstacle and should be abandoned. However, there is nothing amiss in honoring holy days as long as it is God who is honored, not man, and as long as the observance serves as a joyful reminder of God’s work, grace, or blessings. A holiday should not be a burden or a religious obligation; instead, the celebration should naturally stem from the believer’s praise and gratitude toward God.