holy day of obligation

holy day of obligation Word Origin noun

1. a day on which Roman Catholics are duty-bound to attend Mass and abstain from certain kinds of work.
2. a day on which Episcopalians are expected to take communion.

Origin of holy day of obligation First recorded in 1930–35 British Dictionary definitions for holy day of obligation holy day of obligation noun

1. a major feastday of the Roman Catholic Church on which Catholics are bound to attend Mass and refrain from servile work