I may be traveling from the United States to Frankfurt, Germany, in a couple of weeks and am wondering if August 15 is a holy day of obligation in Germany. It is a holy day of obligation in my diocese, but I wasn't sure if I am obliged to attend while visiting Germany. Any help is appreciated.

Anonymous--

From what I can tell from the limited online sources available that address the matter in English, it appears that the Assumption is a holy day of obligation in Germany in some places but not others. I recommend calling your diocese and asking if your diocese can help you find out for certain if the Assumption is a holy day of obligation in the area where you'll be traveling.

Generally speaking, if it is a holy day in both your place of origin and the place in which you're traveling, then you should go to Mass. If there are different disciplines in place in your home diocese and your location of travel, you can choose which discipline to follow while traveling. For example, the Solemnity of Mary is a holy day of obligation that is dispensed by some bishops in the U.S. If someone from a diocese in which the obligation is dispensed travels to a diocese in which the obligation is imposed, that person is free to choose either to follow the discipline of his home diocese or that of the diocese in which he is traveling.

It should go without saying though that a Catholic should do his best to go to Mass on a holy day of obligation, even if the obligation to do so does not bind him. If the option not to go is available to him, there should be some objective reason to avail himself of that option rather than indulging a desire to "get off the hook" for Mass that day.

Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers

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