Code of Canon Law: text (original) (raw)
Can.1246 §1 The Lord's Day, on which the paschal mystery is celebrated, is byapostolic tradition to be observed in the universal Church as the primary holyday of obligation. In the same way the following holydays are to beobserved: the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension ofChrist, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, the feast of Mary the Motherof God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of St Joseph, thefeast of the Apostles SS Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints.
§2 However, the Episcopal Conference may, with the prior approval of the Apostolic See,suppress certain holydays of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.
Can.1247 On Sundays and other holydays of obligation, the faithful are obliged toassist at Mass. They are also to abstain from such work or business that wouldinhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body.
Can.1248 §1 The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass iscelebrated in a catholic rite either on a holyday itself or on the evening of the previous day.
§2 If it isimpossible to assist at a eucharistic celebration, either because no sacred minister is available or for some other grave reason, the faithful are strongly recommended to take part in a liturgy of the Word, if there be such in theparish church or some other sacred place, which is celebrated in accordancewith the provisions laid down by the diocesan Bishop; or to spend anappropriate time in prayer, whether personally or as a family or, as occasion presents, in a group of families.