holy day of obligation

American  

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.

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holy day of obligation British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of holy day of obligation

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 • Feb. 14, 2024

It was the feast of the Epiphany, a holy day of obligation, so Papa did not go to work.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The great feast of Corpus Christi is not a holy day of obligation.

From Baltimore Catechism, No. 4 An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine by Kinkead, Thomas L.

For example, St. Patrick's Day is not a holy day of obligation.

From Baltimore Catechism, No. 4 An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine by Kinkead, Thomas L.

It was not a holy day of obligation but she knew it was a feast day in French Village.

From The Shepherd of the North by Maher, Richard Aumerle