{"id":266402,"date":"2017-12-29T10:20:09","date_gmt":"2017-12-29T15:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aleteia.org\/?post_type=post&p=266402"},"modified":"2017-12-29T10:20:09","modified_gmt":"2017-12-29T15:20:09","slug":"do-we-have-to-go-to-mass-on-january-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2017\/12\/do-we-have-to-go-to-mass-on-january-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Do we have to go to Mass on January 1?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

This year, in the United States, no.<\/p>\n

The USCCB notes on its liturgical calendar:<\/p>\n

Since the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God on January 1, 2018 falls on a Monday this year, it is not observed as a Holy Day of Obligation. <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Catholic Answers explains:<\/strong> \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

In accord with the provisions of canon 1246 \u00a72 of the Code of Canon Law<\/em>, the USCCB has ruled: \u201cWhenever 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\u201d (www.usccb.org).<\/p>\n

This covers the bulk of instances in which you will find holy days of obligation dispensed for Latin-rite Catholics in the United States. However, there is one more provision of canon law to keep in mind: \u201cWhenever he judges that it contributes to their spiritual welfare, the diocesan bishop can dispense the faithful from disciplinary laws, both universal laws and those particular laws made by the supreme ecclesiastical authority, for his territory or his subjects\u201d (CIC 87 \u00a71).<\/p>\n

This means that an individual bishop can dispense the obligation of a holy day of obligation for his diocese. That is why in some U.S. dioceses January 1 is celebrated as a holy day of obligation, and in others it is not.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nonetheless, in Canada (and, I presume, other places, as well), it is<\/em> a holy day of obligation.<\/p>\n

Confused? Yeah. Me, too. It\u2019s unclear why this has to be the case. But if you\u2019re looking for a great start for the new year, I can\u2019t think of a better way than by attending holy Mass. The responsorial psalm alone offers us an opportunity to recite this great prayer of trusting hope:<\/p>\n

R. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.<\/strong>
\nMay God have pity on us and bless us;
\nmay he let his face shine upon us.
\nSo may your way be known upon earth;
\namong all nations, your salvation.
\nR. May God bless us in his mercy.<\/strong>
\nMay the nations be glad and exult
\nbecause you rule the peoples in equity;
\nthe nations on the earth you guide.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A happy and blessed 2018, one and all!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year, in the United States, no. The USCCB notes on its liturgical calendar: Since the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God on January 1, 2018 falls on a Monday this year, it is not observed as a Holy Day of Obligation. Catholic Answers explains: \u00a0 In accord with the provisions of canon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":230768,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11252],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-266402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-open-mind"],"yoast_head":"\nDo we have to go to Mass on January 1?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This year, in the United States, no. 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