Holy Days of Obligation

In addition to every Sunday, the days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin rite arch/dioceses of the United States of America include the following solemnities: Mary, Mother of God (January 1); the Ascension of the Lord (Forty Days after Easter); the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15); All Saints (November 1); Nativity of the Lord [Christmas] (December 25). 

Whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God; or August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin; or November 1, the solemnity of All Saints falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is lifted. The faithful, however, are encouraged to attend Mass on those days.

The following are the holy days celebrated and observed with obligation in the Archdiocese of Boston for 2025:

-- Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God, Wednesday, Jan. 1.

-- Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Thursday, May 29.

-- Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Friday, Aug. 15.

-- Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday, Dec. 8.

-- Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Thursday, Dec. 25.

(Note: The Solemnity of All Saints is not a day of obligation this year, Saturday, Nov. 1.)

Funeral Masses cannot be celebrated on any of these solemnities except Nov. 1.