Holy Days of Obligation

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 Faithful are reminded that the following Feasts are Holy Days of Obligation upon which it is binding of the Faithful to hear Mass.

DATE	DAY	All Sundays are of obligation
01 Jan	Mon	The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ 2024AD
06 Jan	Sat	The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
02 Feb	Fri	The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary
14 Feb	Wed	Ash Wednesday*
24 Mar	Sun	The Triumphant Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem
28 Mar	Thu	Maundy Thursday
29 Mar	Fri	Good Friday
30 Mar	Sat	Holy Saturday
31 Mar	Sun	The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ
09 May	Thu	The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ
19 May	Sun	Pentecost Sunday
26 May	Sun	The Most Holy & Blessed Trinity
30 May	Thu	Festum Sanctissimi Corporis Christi
29 Jun	Sat	The holy Apostles SS Peter & Paul
15 Aug	Thu	The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos
01 Nov	Fri	All Saints’ Day
02 Nov	Sat	All Souls’ Day
01 Dec	Sun	The First Sunday of Advent
08 Dec	Sun	The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary*
25 Dec	Wed	The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
01 Jan	Wed	The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ 2025AD
		[*not of strict obligation but of serious devotion]

ON THESE DAYS, every Catholic is obliged, under pain of mortal sin, to hear Mass, just as he is on Sundays. Since Our Lord suffered death in order to institute Holy Mass, it requires a very serious inconvenience such as sickness or notable damage to one’s health or property, to excuse one from this obligation. When a Holy Day falls on Sunday, the hearing of Mass once satisfies both obligations.

Days of Devotion

On which it is earnestly recommended to hear Mass… The days in red text are of particular importance to the faithful of the Oratory communities in the South East of England commemorating local Saints and Patrons…

February 8th	St Cuthman of Steyning, Confessor
February 24th	St Matthias, Apostle
March 1st	St David, Patron of Wales
March 17th	St Patrick, Patron of Ireland
March 19th	St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
March 21st	St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe
March 25th	Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
April 3rd	St Richard of Chichester, Bishop & Confessor
April 23rd	St George, Patron of England
April 25th	St Mark, Evangelist
May 1st	SS Philip & James, Apostles
May 3rd	The Finding of the Holy Cross
May 19th	St Dunstan of Canterbury, Bishop & Confessor
June 5th	St Boniface, Patron of Utrecht
June 6th	St John before the Latin Gate
June 11th	St Barnabas, Apostle
June 24th	Nativity of St John the Baptist
July 2nd	The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
July 3rd	St Thomas, Apostle
July 24th	St Lewinna, Virgin Martyr of Sussex
July 25th	St James the Greater, Apostle
July 26th	St Ann, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 6th	The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
August 10th	St Laurence, Martyr
August 16th	St Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 24th	St Bartholomew, Apostle
August 29th	The Beheading of St John the Baptist
September 8th	Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 14th	The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 21st	St Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist
September 24th	Our Lady of Walsingham
October 12th	St Wilfrid of York, Apostle to the South Saxons
September 29th	Michaelmass Day
October 18th	St Luke, Evangelist
October 28th	SS Simon & Jude, Apostles
November 7th	St Willibrord of the Netherlands
November 30th	St Andrew, Apostle & Patron of Scotland
December 21st	St Thomas, Apostle
December 26th	St Stephen, Protomartyr
December 27th	St John, Apostle & Evangelist
December 28th	Holy Innocents
December 29th	St Thomas of Canterbury, Bishop & Martyr

Fasting Days

In keeping with the obligation of doing penance in reparation for our many sins, the Church also obliges us to fast on certain days throughout the year. All persons over eighteen [it used to be twenty-one] and under fifty-nine years of age must fast, unless their health prevents them from doing so. This means that on a fast day, they may have only one principal or full meal, and two smaller snacks. They may eat meat at this principal meal, except on days of abstinence. At the two smaller snacks, they may not have meat, but they may take sufficient food to maintain their strength. However, these two smaller snacks together should be less than a full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted; but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, may be taken at any time on a fast day. The Traditional days of fast are:

The Forty Days of Lent
The Ember Days, which are the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in the:

• First Week of Lent
• Whitsun Week
• Third Week in September
• Third Week in Advent

The Vigils or Eves of:

• Whitsunday
• SS Peter & Paul
• The Assumption
• All Saints
• The Conception
• Christmass

All Wednesdays and Fridays in Advent

THE COMMUNION FAST is obligatory for one hour before receiving Holy Communion. We are, however, urged to fast from midnight, or at least three hours before receiving Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Abstinence Days

To refrain from eating meat or poultry, which includes sauces and soups made from their juices. It does not, however, affect the quantity of food we may take on days of abstinence. All Catholics who have attained the use of reason, which is commonly seven years of age, are bound by the law of abstinence, unless otherwise dispensed. The law of abstinence is abrogated whenever a Holy Day of Obligation falls on a day of abstinence.

The Sundays in Lent, unless dispensation be given (usual for England & Wales)
Every Friday, unless it be Christmas Day

According to the law of the Church “the substantial observance” of Fridays as days of penance, whether by abstinence from meat or other penance is “a grave obligation.” [Pope Paul VI, Paentemini, 1966, Norm II, 2 – this obligation has not been altered or remitted by the Holy See.]