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