The Mass Obligation

All Catholics, once they have reached the age of reason, are bound under serious sin to be present at the whole of Mass every Sunday and on every Holy Day of Obligation. Deliberately to miss Mass on a Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation is a serious sin which is forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The obligation to be present at the whole of Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation ceases where there is personal illness, when one has to care for a sick or frail person, and when one is impeded, e.g., by travelling.

In addition to Sunday, the days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin Rite dioceses of the United States of America, in conformity with canon 1246, are as follows:

The Holy Days of Obligation
	The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (1 January)
	The Solemnity of the Ascension (formerly the 7th Sunday of Easter)
	The Solemnity of The Assumption (15 August)
	The Solemnity of All Saints (1 November)
	The Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception (8 December)
	The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (25 December)
Please note: Whenever January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption, or November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated.