The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In New Zealand we now have only two days of Holy Obligation that have remained on the day they fall. (Last year with approval, with the assumption falling on a Monday it was moved to the preceding Sunday)
Some other feast days have been moved to the following Sunday (which of course is always a day of Obligation) and others, while the feast day is still celebrated, have been removed from days of Obligation.
On a quest to find a history of dates things changed in New Zealand, I can't say I found much! For a glimpse however, this is from a faculty sheet that Viard issued Reignier in 1858 included the following:
“Regarding precept days, on which, namely, they must participate in divine offices and abstain from servile works, they are, in addition to each Sunday, the Epiphany, Ascension, the feast of the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the feasts of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Commemoration of All Saints, and the Nativity of the Lord”
So, we have the Epiphany 6th Jan, which has been moved to a Sunday; the Ascension 40 days after Easter, the Thursday of the 6th week, moved to the 7th Sunday of Easter, known as Ascension Sunday.
The feast of the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ, also known as Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, the Obligation day for this has been moved to Sunday in New Zealand. Interesting to note, in some countries the actual feast day is a public holiday - how pleased would the Lord be to see that happen in New Zealand. It is great to see some of our Parishes bringing in the Corpus Christi procession, a great profession of our faith and a strong acknowledgment of the Real Presence.
Sts Peter and Paul, 29th June together with All Saints on the 1st November, are no longer a day of Obligation. Mary Mother of God, 1st Jan is not mentioned above but I wonder if it once was a day of obligation in New Zealand? Maybe we can claim the public holiday as a sign we should treat it as one.
Leaving us with two stand alone days in New Zealand, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Nativity of the Lord. New Zealand was dedicated to Mary as “Our Lady Assumed into Heaven’, by Bishop Pompallier when he celebrated his first Mass in New Zealand in 1838. Sunday 15 August 2021, we renewed our country’s dedication to Our Lady, dedicating St Mary of the Angels Church in Wellington as a National Shrine to Mary. As Catholics, let us continue to pray to Our Lady, for her intercession to bring the people of New Zealand, and around the world back to the faith, and to place our faith first above all else.
What can we do to celebrate the feast tomorrow? With only two stand alone days - lets celebrate loudly
Read the letter where Pope Pius XXII defines the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith
Cook your favourite dinner, make it a feast!
Lay flowers around a Mary shrine, light candles in your home, recite the Rosary (even if it is just two of the Glorious mysteries - the Assumption and Crowning)
Talk with your children, make it special, create artwork
Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, Pray for Us
