Every Catholic who has attained the age of reason, and is not prevented by sickness or other sufficient cause, is obligated to rest from servile work and attend Holy Mass on the following days. In so far as possible they are also to abstain from those labors and business concerns which impede the worship to be rendered to God, the joy which is proper to the Lord's Day, or the proper relaxation of mind and body. (See Canon 1247)
| 2007 | |
| January 1 | Octave of Christmas, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God |
| May 20 | Ascension of Our Lord |
August 15 |
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin |
| November 1 | All Saint's Day |
| December 8 | The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| December 25 | Christmas, The Nativity of Our Lord |
| 2008 | |
| January 1 | Octave of Christmas, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God |
| May 4 | Ascension of Our Lord |
| August 15 | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| November 1 | All Saint's Day |
| December 8 | The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| December 25 | Christmas |
The obligation of attending Mass on these days is fulfilled by assistance at a Mass, which is, celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the holy day or on the evening of the preceding day. (See Canon 1248)
At their November 1991 meeting, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops decided that whenever January 1, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God or August 15, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin or November 1, the Feast of all Saints falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated. The action was confirmed by the Congregation for Bishops on July 4, 1992.
Although the obligation to attend when these three holy days fall on a Saturday or Monday is abolished, parishes are to continue to observe these holy days by scheduling one or more Masses at a convenient time so that people who wish to participate are able to do so.