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

Her festival was celebrated in many places with the utmost splendour, and in certain dioceses in France was a holy day of obligation as late as the beginning of the 17th century.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5 "Cat" to "Celt" by Various

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.

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.