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In addition to Sundays, the Catholic Church has a variety of "holy days of obligation" in the liturgical calendar to encourage Catholics to celebrate particular mysteries of the faith. The "obligation" refers to the obligation to attend Mass.
A precept of the Church explains, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.”
These days are put on the same level as a Sunday and Catholics are obliged to attend Mass.
One of the chief reasons behind these holy days is to highlight a specific aspect of the life of Christ or to give honor to the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the communion of saints.
Holy days of obligation are for the spiritual benefit of Christ’s flock and are opportunities to receive grace.
While it's true that the Church does "obligate" us to attend Mass, we should always think of the reality of what Mass is, and remember that any chance to be present at Christ's sacrifice is an amazing opportunity -- far greater than any earthly opportunity such as attending the concert of a favorite star or a professional sports event. And it's free!
All Saints Day
For many centuries November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints, has been a holy day of obligation in the universal Church.
At the same time, holy days of obligation are still governed by the local bishops’ conferences and can vary from country to country. For example, December 12 (feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) is a holy day of obligation in Mexico (Our Lady of Guadalupe is also the patron of the country). Meanwhile, December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, is a day of obligation in the United States (and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the patron of the US).
This means that local bishops have the ability to dispense an obligation when they deem it necessary.
In many cases, whenever a holy day of obligation lands on a Saturday, the obligation to attend Mass is dispensed, meaning that Catholics are not obliged to attend.
In 2025, the USCCB has dispensed the obligation to attend Mass on November 1. The US Bishops created the following rule that is followed each year:
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.
If you live in another part of the world, it is possible the obligation could remain. This is why it is best to consult your local parish priest, who should know what the local bishop has decreed.
While you may not be obligated to attend Mass, most parishes will still celebrate the holy day at a single Mass, which you are always invited to attend.
