Holy Days of Obligation in United States — 2027
Besides every Sunday, the United States observes 6 holy days of obligation, set by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with the approval of the Holy See. Here is each one with its 2027 date and whether the obligation binds this year.
The holy days in 2027
Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Friday, January 1
The Ascension of the Lord
Thursday, May 6
Since 1999 each US ecclesiastical province may transfer the Ascension to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. It remains on Thursday only in the provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha, and Philadelphia (per USCCB liturgical calendars 2023-2027); everywhere else in the US it is celebrated on the following Sunday.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday, August 15
All Saints
Monday, November 1
Falls on a Monday in 2027, so the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated this year. The feast is still celebrated on its date.
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday, December 8
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Saturday, December 25
How the rule works
1991 NCCB decree (confirmed by the Holy See, Prot. N. 296/84, effective 1 January 1993): '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.' The feast stays on its date — only the obligation lapses. The abrogation does NOT apply to December 8, December 25, or the Ascension. Hawaii, by indult (1992), observes only Christmas and the Immaculate Conception as holy days of obligation.
Celebrated on Sunday in the United States
These solemnities are transferred to a Sunday, so they are covered by the ordinary Sunday obligation:
- The Epiphany of the Lord — Sunday, January 3. Transferred to the Sunday falling 2-8 January in the United States.
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) — Sunday, May 30. Transferred to the Sunday after Trinity Sunday in the United States.
Not days of obligation in the United States
These feasts of canon 1246 are kept as solemnities on their dates, without a Mass obligation:
- Saint Joseph (19 March)
- Saints Peter and Paul (29 June)
- Epiphany on 6 January (celebrated on Sunday instead)
Fasting & abstinence in the United States
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. On Fridays outside Lent, Catholics in the US are urged to keep Friday penance — abstinence from meat is especially recommended — but it is not obligatory under pain of sin (1966 Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence, kept in force by the canon 1253 complementary norm).
Fasting binds ages 18-59; abstinence binds from age 14 (USCCB Lent rules; canon 1252).
Hawaii indult: only Christmas (Dec 25) and the Immaculate Conception (Dec 8) are holy days of obligation in the State of Hawaii (standing note in the USCCB Liturgical Calendar).
Common questions
How many holy days of obligation are there in the United States in 2027?
Besides every Sunday, the United States observes 6 holy days of obligation. In 2027, the obligation to attend Mass binds on 5 of them — see the list for the days where the rule changes the answer this year.
Who sets the holy days of obligation in the United States?
Canon 1246 of the Code of Canon Law lists ten holy days for the universal Church, but each national bishops' conference may, with the approval of the Holy See, suppress some or transfer them to a Sunday. The list on this page follows the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
What are the fasting rules in the United States?
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat. On Fridays outside Lent, Catholics in the US are urged to keep Friday penance — abstinence from meat is especially recommended — but it is not obligatory under pain of sin (1966 Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence, kept in force by the canon 1253 complementary norm).
Rules verified against the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and vatican.va. Sources: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/canon-law/complementary-norms/canon-1246 · https://www.usccb.org/resources/2026cal.pdf · https://www.usccb.org/resources/newsletter-2025-02.pdf · https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/lent/catholic-information-on-lenten-fast-and-abstinence