Joshua Bennett
August 14 is not a Catholic holy day of obligation. However, it is the eve of the Assumption of Mary, a universal holy day of obligation. Ecclesial law binds all Catholics to go to Mass between 4 pm on August 14 and 11:59 pm on August 15. Catholics are expected to attend Mass on holy days of obligation unless they are ill or unable to attend Mass due to circumstances such as being the sole caregiver for someone who is homebound.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 August |
| Name of Holy Day | The Solemnity of the Assumption |
| Description | The Catholic belief that Mary was assumed bodily into heaven. |
| Obligation | Catholics are expected to go to Mass between 4 pm on 14 August and 11:59 pm on 15 August. |
| Feast | Blessing of Herbs and Flowers |
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What You'll Learn
The Assumption of Mary
The earliest traditions say that Mary's life ended in Jerusalem, but some later versions of the assumption narrative state that the assumption took place in Ephesus, in the House of the Virgin Mary. Archaeology has revealed two tombs of Mary, one in Jerusalem and one in Ephesus, but neither contains any relics of her body. This absence of relics, combined with the existence of widespread "Transitus Stories" from the sixth century that teach Mary's glorious Assumption, provides historical evidence for the belief in the Assumption.
There are numerous accounts of the assumption of the Virgin Mary, published in various languages, including Greek, Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Ethiopic, and Arabic. The standard Greek text is attributed to St. John the Theologian (Evangelist), while the standard Latin is attributed to Melito of Sardis. The teaching of the Assumption of Mary became widespread across the Christian world, celebrated as early as the 5th century and established in the East by Emperor Maurice around AD 600.
According to one account, St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, announced at the Council of Chalcedon (451) that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that when her tomb was opened at the request of St. Thomas, it was found empty. The Apostles concluded that her body had been taken up to heaven. This incident, with Mary dropping her girdle down to the apostle from heaven as testament, is depicted in many later paintings of the Assumption.
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Catholics expected to attend Mass
While August 14 is not a Catholic holy day, it is part of the celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption, which is a holy day of obligation for Catholics. This holy day marks the Catholic belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was assumed bodily into heaven. The celebration begins at 4 pm on August 14 and ends at 11:59 pm on August 15. During this time, Catholics are expected to attend Mass.
According to Catholic doctrine, holy days of obligation are days on which Catholics are expected to attend Mass. While Sundays are always considered holy days of obligation, there are also a few additional days throughout the year that are designated as such. These holy days of obligation vary slightly depending on the region and can be determined by the local diocese or bishop. For example, in the United States, the feast of Saint Joseph and the feast of Saints Peter and Paul are not considered holy days of obligation, while in other parts of the world they may be.
The Solemnity of the Assumption is considered a universal holy day of obligation, meaning it is observed by Catholics worldwide. This feast day is a significant event in the Catholic Church, often involving processions and the blessing of herbs and flowers. The Assumption is one of the major feasts in the life of Mary, alongside other important feast days such as the feast of the Transfiguration (August 6) and the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe (August 14).
Catholics are encouraged to use their judgment and seek guidance from their priests when determining their attendance at Mass on holy days of obligation. While it is not a sin to miss Mass on these days for just cause, such as illness or inability to attend, Catholics are generally expected to prioritize attendance at Mass on these special days. By doing so, they can fully participate in the liturgical year and celebrate the significant feasts in the life of Christ and Mary.
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A holy day of obligation
August 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a universal holy day of obligation for Catholics, requiring them to attend Mass between 4 pm on August 14 and 11:59 pm on August 15. This obligation is waived for those living in dioceses that have mitigated it, such as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, who only observe two holy days: December 25 and January 1.
The obligation to attend Mass on holy days can be dispensed for just cause, such as physical illness or being the sole caregiver for someone who is homebound. Catholics are advised to use their prudential judgment and consult their priests to determine if they qualify for dispensation.
The Solemnity of the Assumption is a significant feast day for Catholics. It celebrates the Catholic belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was assumed bodily into heaven upon her death. This feast day expresses the hope that every person's full self—mind, body, and spirit—will be reunited, resurrected, and enjoy eternal communion with God and others, as believed to have been achieved by the Virgin Mary.
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Ecclesial law binds Catholics to Mass
August 15 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a universal holy day of obligation for Catholics. Ecclesial law, also known as canon law, binds all Catholics to attend Mass between 4 pm on August 14 and 11:59 pm on August 15. This law is part of the Catholic Church's system of religious laws and ecclesiastical legal principles, which govern and direct the activities of Catholics toward the mission of the Church.
The canon law of the Catholic Church is the oldest continuously functioning legal system in the West. It is a set of ecclesiastical laws that regulate the external organization and government of the Church. The legislative power of the Church creates these positive ecclesiastical laws to govern its members according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Fasting during the liturgical season of Lent and requiring religious workers to obtain permission from their superiors to publish a book are examples of ecclesiastical positive law.
The Catholic Church's canon law has a rich history, with the Greek Church possessing two principal nomocanonical collections: the "Nomocanon of John Scholasticus" from the sixth century and the "Nomocanon in 14 titles" from the seventh century. Oriental canon law, which includes the traditions of Eastern Catholic Churches, and Latin canon law, which developed under the influence of the Roman Pontiff in the remnants of the Western Roman Empire, are two distinct types of canon law. The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, issued in 1990, is a separate but parallel code that governs all Eastern Catholic Churches.
The Solemnity of the Assumption is a significant holy day for Catholics as it marks the Catholic belief that Mary was assumed bodily into heaven. This celebration professes the hope that every person's full self – mind, body, and spirit – will be reunited, resurrected, and enjoy eternal communion with God and others, as believed to have been experienced by the Virgin Mary. While August 15 is a universal holy day of obligation, there may be some dioceses that have mitigated this obligation, such as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, who observe Holy Days of Obligation on December 25 and January 1.
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Assumption/Dormition Fast
The Assumption/Dormition Fast is a period of fasting observed by Orthodox Christians, Eastern rite Catholics, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholics. It is also known as the Fast in August or the second Pascha. The fast starts on August 1 and lasts until August 14, with the Feast of Dormition (or Assumption) celebrated on August 15.
The Dormition Fast honours the Mother of God the Word, who, foreknowing her repose, fasted and prayed for humanity. During the fast, observers abstain from certain foods, including red meat, poultry, meat products, dairy products (including eggs and milk), fish, oil, and wine. Some choose to abstain from meat only. The Dormition Fast is not mandatory for Latin Catholics but is a practice they can embrace if they wish to grow spiritually.
The Feast of Dormition, also known as the Assumption of Mary, celebrates the "'falling asleep' or death of Mary, the Mother of God, and her being taken up into heaven. The Orthodox Church specifically teaches that Mary died a natural death and that her body was resurrected on the third day after her repose, at which point she was taken up, body and soul, into heaven. The Eastern Catholic observance of the feast corresponds to that of the Orthodox Church.
The Catholic doctrine of the Assumption, on the other hand, covers Mary's bodily assumption into heaven but does not specify whether she was dead or alive at that point. Pope Pius XII declared the belief in the Assumption of Mary into heaven as a dogma of the Catholic Church in 1950.
The Dormition Fast has been celebrated since the 4th century, according to early Christian tradition. It is one of four yearly fasts observed by early Christians, the others being Nativity, Lent, and Apostles.
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Frequently asked questions
August 14 is the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe, but it is not a holy day of obligation.
Holy days of obligation are days on which Catholics are expected to go to Mass. There are nine holy days of obligation outside of Sundays in the Catholic calendar, but the local conference of bishops may suppress or transfer some of them.
The closest holy day of obligation to August 14 is the Solemnity of the Assumption, which falls on August 15.
The Solemnity of the Assumption is a celebration of the Catholic belief that Mary was assumed bodily into heaven.
