Holy Days of Obligation
Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation. The Faithful are reminded that the following Feasts are Holy Days of Obligation upon which it is binding of the Faithful to hear Mass.
2019 | All Sundays are of obligation | Feast | |
January 1st | Tuesday | The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ | New Year’s Day |
January 6th | Sunday | The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ | Epiphany |
February 2nd | Saturday | The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Candlemass |
March 6th | Wednesday | Ash Wednesday | Ash Wednesday* |
April 14th | Sunday | The Triumphant Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem | Palm Sunday |
April 18th | Thursday | Holy Thursday | Maundy Thursday |
April 19th | Friday | Holy Friday | Good Friday |
April 20th | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Holy Saturday |
April 21st | Sunday | The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ | Easter Sunday |
May 30th | Thursday | The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ | Ascension Day |
June 9th | Sunday | Pentecost | Whit Sunday |
June 16th | Sunday | The Most Holy Trinity | Trinity Sunday |
June 20th | Thursday | Corpus et Sanguis Christi | Corpus Christi |
June 29th | Friday | SS Peter & Paul, Apostles | Peter & Paul |
August 15th | Thursday | The Dormition of the Mother of God | The Assumption |
November 1st | Friday | All Saints Day | All Saints |
November 2nd | Saturday | All Souls Day | All Souls* |
December 1st | Sunday | First Sunday of Advent | Advent Sunday |
December 8th | Sunday | The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Conception BVM* |
January 1st | Wednesday | The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ | New Year’s Day 2020 |
[*Feast not of strict obligation but of serious devotion] |
Days of Devotion
On which it is earnestly recommended to hear Mass… The days in red text are of particular importance to the faithful of the Oratory communities in the South East of England commemorating local Saints and Patrons…
February 8th | St Cuthman of Steyning, Confessor |
February 24th | St Matthias, Apostle |
March 1st | St David, Patron of Wales |
March 17th | St Patrick, Patron of Ireland |
March 19th | St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
March 21st | St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe |
March 25th | Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
April 3rd | St Richard of Chichester, Bishop & Confessor |
April 23rd | St George, Patron of England |
April 25th | St Mark, Evangelist |
May 1st | SS Philip & James, Apostles |
May 3rd | The Finding of the Holy Cross |
May 19th | St Dunstan of Canterbury, Bishop & Confessor |
June 5th | St Boniface, Patron of Utrecht |
June 6th | St John before the Latin Gate |
June 11th | St Barnabas, Apostle |
June 24th | Nativity of St John the Baptist |
July 2nd | The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
July 3rd | St Thomas, Apostle |
July 24th | St Lewinna, Virgin Martyr of Sussex |
July 25th | St James the Greater, Apostle |
July 26th | St Ann, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
August 6th | The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ |
August 10th | St Laurence, Martyr |
August 16th | St Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
August 24th | St Bartholomew, Apostle |
August 29th | The Beheading of St John the Baptist |
September 8th | Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
September 14th | The Exaltation of the Holy Cross |
September 21st | St Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist |
September 24th | Our Lady of Walsingham |
October 12th | St Wilfrid of York, Apostle to the South Saxons |
September 29th | Michaelmass Day |
October 18th | St Luke, Evangelist |
October 28th | SS Simon & Jude, Apostles |
November 7th | St Willibrord of the Netherlands |
November 30th | St Andrew, Apostle & Patron of Scotland |
December 21st | St Thomas, Apostle |
December 26th | St Stephen, Protomartyr |
December 27th | St John, Apostle & Evangelist |
December 28th | Holy Innocents |
December 29th | St Thomas of Canterbury, Bishop & Martyr |
FASTING DAYS
On which only one meal is allowed, and flesh meat is forbidden…
The Forty Days of Lent
The Ember Days, which are the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in the:
- First Week of Lent
- Whitsun Week
- Third Week in September
- Third Week in Advent
The Vigils or Eves of:
- Whitsunday
- SS Peter & Paul
- The Assumption
- All Saints
- Christmass
All Wednesdays and Fridays in Advent
ABSTINENCE DAYS
On which it is forbidden to eat flesh meat…
The Sundays in Lent, unless dispensation be given (usual for England & Wales)
Every Friday, unless it be Christmass Day