2024 Holy Days Of Obligation In The United States
The Holy Days of Obligation within the universal Catholic Church are the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension, the Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, and All Saints. However, in the United States, the bishops, with the prior approval of the Apostolic See, have suppressed some of the holy days of obligation or transferred them to a Sunday.
* In 2024, The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, falls on a Sunday, December 8. This is also the 2nd Sunday of Advent so the Feast day is transferred to Monday, December 9. Because of this, the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated this year. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) falls on a Sunday in 2024, so it is transferred to Monday, December 9, and the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated.
UPDATE: Earlier this year, 2024, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, wrote to the Holy See to clarify the obligation to attend Mass when a holy day of obligation falls on a Sunday during Advent, Lent, or Easter and the Solemnity is transferred to Monday. In a memo to the U.S. bishops sent on Thursday, October 10, Bishop Paprocki shared the Dicastery for Legislative Text’s response: “The feast must be observed as a day of obligation on the day to which it is transferred.” Because of this new directive, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Monday, December 9, 2024, is to be observed as a holy day of obligation.
**In most dioceses in the United States, the Ascension of the Lord (May 9) is moved to Sunday, May 12.
“A diocesan bishop, whenever he judges that it contributes to their spiritual good, is able to dispense the faithful from universal and particular disciplinary laws issued for his territory or his subjects by the supreme authority of the Church. He is not able to dispense, however, from procedural or penal laws nor from those whose dispensation is specially reserved to the Apostolic See or some other authority.” – Code of Canon Law 87, §1
Holy Days 2024
January 1 | Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
May 9 or May 12 | The Ascension of Jesus
August 15 | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
November 1 | All Saints’ Day
December 9 | The Immaculate Conception (not obligated to attend Mass)
December 25 | Christmas
Other Important Days In The Catholic Church For 2024
- December 3, 2023 | First Sunday of Advent (beginning of a new liturgical year)
- December 30, 2023 | Feast of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- January 6, 2024 |The Epiphany of the Lord
- January 8, 2024 | Baptism of Our Lord
- February 14, 2024 | Ash Wednesday
- March 19, 2024 | Feast of St. Joseph
- March 24, 2024 | Palm Sunday
- March 28, 2024 | Holy Thursday
- March 29, 2024 | Good Friday
- March 30, 2024 |Holy Saturday
- March 31, 2024 | Easter Sunday
- April 7, 2024 | Divine Mercy Sunday
- April 8, 2024 | Annunciation of Our Lord (moved from March 25 due to Holy Week)
- May 19, 2024 | Pentecost Sunday
- May 26, 2024 | The Most Holy Trinity
- May 30, 2024 | Corpus Christi (celebrated June 2)
- June 7, 2024 | The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- June 24, 2024 | The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
- June 29, 2024 | Saints Peter and Paul
- November 2, 2024 | All Souls’ Day
- November 24, 2024 |Feast of Christ the King (end of the liturgical year)
- December 1, 2024 | First Sunday of Advent
- December 29, 2024 | Feast of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Why Isn’t Easter A Holy Day Of Obligation?
Easter ALWAYS falls on a Sunday. Every Sunday is a Holy Day of Obligation! So, although not listed, Easter is a Holy Day of Obligation!
On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.
Can. 1247
Looking for 2025 Holy Days? Find them HERE!
