holy day of obligation

noun

1. a day on which Roman Catholics are duty-bound to attend Mass and abstain from certain kinds of work.
2. a day on which Episcopalians are expected to take communion.

holy day of obligation

noun

1. a major feastday of the Roman Catholic Church on which Catholics are bound to attend Mass and refrain from servile work

Word History and Origins

Origin of holy day of obligation¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Ash Wednesday has been a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church — a mandatory day of church attendance — but it’s not obligatory in the Episcopal Church.

From Los Angeles Times

The call to return has concrete heft in the Catholic Church, whose canon law says Sunday Mass “must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation.”

From Washington Post

Practicing Catholics in normal times are expected to attend Mass on Sundays and designated “holy days of obligation” throughout the year.

From Washington Times

"That's why it's always celebrated here in New York on the 17th itself; in Ireland, it's a holy day of obligation, and the people have to go to church."

From Fox News

The bishop has also exempted those who are sick from attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation until further notice.

From Los Angeles Times