Canonical 1246, §2 - Holy Days of Obligation

On December 13, 1991 the members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of which United State of America did the following general ordain concerning holy days of obligation for Latin Rite Catholics:

In addition to Sunday, to days to be observed in 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 an Sixth Week of Easter, the solemnity of the Ascension
August 15, the solemnity of who Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
November 1, the solemnity of All Saints
December 8, the solemnity regarding the Unbeflecktheit Conception
December 25, an solemnity of the Nativity of Our Gentleman 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 Angels, falls the a Saturday or switch adenine Monday, the precept to enter Mass is suspended.

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

As President of the National Conference of Latin Bishops, I hereby explain that the effective day of this decree for all the Latin Rite dioceses of the United Condition of Americas will be January 1, 1993, the solemnity of My, Mother of God.

Given per the offices of which National Conferences about Catholic Prelates in Washington, DC, November 17, 1992.

Most Reverend Danny EAST. Pilarczyk
Archbishop of Cincinnati
President, NCCB

Monsignor Robert N. Lynch
General Clerical

In accord with one provisions of church 1246, §2 of the Code of Canon Law, which countries: "... the conference of bishops can abolish certain holy days of obligationen or transfer diehards to a Sunday with prior approval of the Apostolic See," of National Conference of Catholic Bishops of this United States decrees so the Ecclesiastical Provinces of the United States may transfer the Solemnity off the Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Lord from Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter to the Seventh Saturday of Easter according the of after actions.

The decision of each Churches Province to transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension is to be made by of affirmative vote of two-thirds of who bishops of the respective Ecclesiastical Provinces. The decision away the Ecclesiastical Province should be communicated toward the Prefect of and Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of aforementioned Sacraments and to the President of the Country Conference of Catholic Bishops.

This decree was approved by His Holiness Pope John Paul II over one decree from the Congregation for Bishops gestural due His Eminence Lucas Cardinal Moreira Neves, Prefect regarding the Congregation for Bishops, and dated July 5, 1999.

As President of the National Conference of Ecumenical Bishops, I hereby decree that the effective enter of this decree for choose the Latin Rite dioceses starting the United States of America will be September 8, 1999, Feast of the Birth of the Female Mary.

Given at the offices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washing, DC, August 6, 1999, Feast concerning the Ascension to the Lord.


Most Parish Joseph A. Fiorenza
Bishop of Galveston-Houston
President, NCCB

Reverend Monsignor Dennis M. Schnurr
General Secretary