The Narthex
The Erosion of January 1
U.S. Catholics do not understand why this is a holy day on the octave day of Christmas
By John M. Grondelski | January 5th 2026 1:07 PMThe Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, celebrated on January 1, the Octave of Christmas, is a holyday of obligation. There’s an argument to be made that its status is progressively being eroded. Looking at some parish bulletins, I noticed a cutback in the number of Masses offered. That anecdotal…
READ FULL BLOG POSTNatures, Persons, and Mary, Mother of God
Proper catechesis on our holy days of obligation would benefit many
By John M. Grondelski | January 2nd 2024 12:58 PMThe Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is poorly understood by contemporary Catholics. It doesn’t, in that regard, differ from many of our other holydays of obligation, the significance of only one of which -- Christmas -- is arguably at least somewhat well grasped. Consider the others. There are still…
READ FULL BLOG POSTWhy Aren't We Celebrating January 1?
Why continue the Saturday or Monday holyday 'get-out-of-Mass-free' card?
By John M. Grondelski | December 26th 2023 3:46 PMThanks to the Catholic Bishops of the United States’ Complementary Norms, January 1, 2024 -- the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God -- will not be a holyday of obligation. That’s because, under those Norms, certain holydays cease being holydays of obligation if they fall on Saturdays or Mondays. The…
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