Sunday, August 13, 2006

Assumption is a Day of Obligation - August 15

REMINDER: Solemnity of Our Lady's Assumption, a Day of Obligation

Salvador Fernandes, a Konkani Catholics member, gently reminds Catholics about their obligation on the day of our Lady's Assumption into heaven.

The 15th of August is a Day of Obligation, but where people do not even bother to go for Sunday Mass, these other days have lost their importance. I dabbled in a bit of jingle writing to write these lines for my friends, which on this opportunity, I share with you.

O! if you observe the Sabbath as your day of Obligation!
Brother, are you aware of other Holy days in Apostolic tradition?
Let us observe the days devoted by Church as Holy to God
Its Nativity, Epiphany, Corpus Christi and the Ascension of our Lord
God's mother - The Feast of Mary, Her Immaculate Conception
And into Heaven our Mother's Glorious Assumption
The Feast of Saint Joseph, the Foster Father who heeded God's call
In the apostles Honor the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
One day that's for God's people, all the Saints in Heaven
Now these are the days that the Church has chosen.

Due to certain reasons the bishops may abolish or transfer a day
And with the Holy See's approval celebrate as a feast on a Sunday.
Yet the days, that are not so approved for change, remain Holy and
Should, therefore, be observed accordingly for God's glory.

The Sunday Celebration of the Lord's day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the Universal Church."

"Also to be observed are the day of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of Saint Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints." (#2177 CCC, 1246 CCL)

The precept of the Church specifies the law of the Lord more precisely: "On Sundays and other Holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass." "The precept of participating in the Mass is satisfied 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." (#2180 CCC, 1247-1248 CCL)

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