Dies festi de praecepto
Holy days of obligation 2023 The universal law
Besides every Sunday, the Church in the General Roman Calendar keeps ten holy days of obligation. In 2023, eight of them bind on a weekday: Catholics go to Mass that day, or at a vigil Mass the evening before.
These are the holy days of the Church’s universal law. Each bishops’ conference may move some of them to a Sunday or drop the obligation, and every national calendar here does: see your own.
- Sunday 1 January
Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Falls on a Sunday this year.
- Friday 6 January
The Epiphany of the Lord
- Monday 20 March
Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Falls on a Sunday of Lent this year, so it is kept on Monday 20 March, which is not a day of obligation.
- Thursday 18 May
The Ascension of the Lord
- Thursday 8 June
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
- Thursday 29 June
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
- Tuesday 15 August
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Wednesday 1 November
All Saints
- Friday 8 December
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Monday 25 December
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
How the rules work
Canon law names ten holy days for the whole Church and lets each bishops’ conference move some of them to a Sunday or lift the obligation, so the list differs from country to country. Some conferences also move a holy day that falls on a Saturday or a Monday to the Sunday beside it, or keep the feast but lift the obligation that year.
When the calendar itself moves a holy day — the Immaculate Conception off a Sunday of Advent, Saint Joseph off a Sunday of Lent or out of Holy Week — the Dicastery for Divine Worship ruled in January 2025 that the obligation does not move with it.
Dioceses can grant their own dispensations in a particular year; your parish will say. See also the liturgical year 2023 and the ranks of celebrations.