There are six Holy Days of Obligation in the United States. However, when four of them fall on a Saturday or Monday, the obligation is suspended. Regardless of when

• December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception or

December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the obligation remains. Read the decree from the USCCB below.

National Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States of America
Decree of Promulgation

On December 13, 1991 the members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States of America made the following general decree concerning holy days of obligation for Latin rite Catholics:

In addition to Sunday, the days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin Rite dioceses of the United States of America, in conformity with canon 1246, are as follows:

• January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God;
• Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the solemnity of the Ascension;
• August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
• November 1, the solemnity of All Saints;
• December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception;
• December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption, or November 1, the solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated.

This decree of the Conference of Bishops was approved and confirmed by the Apostolic See by a decree of the Congregation for Bishops (Prot. N. 296/84), signed by Bernardin Cardinal Gantin, prefect of the Congregation, and dated July 4, 1992.

As President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, I hereby declare that the effective date of this decree for all the Latin rite dioceses of the United States of America will be January 1, 1993, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

Given at the offices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC, November 17, 1992.

+ Daniel E. Pilarczyk
Archbishop of Cincinnati
President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops

Robert N. Lynch
General Secretary