From Nicholas Mitchell, Port Elizabeth – This is an urgent appeal to our bishops, that they retain the feasts of the Ascension and the Assumption as Holy Days of Obligation in this country, along with Christmas.
Observance of holy days is an important part of our Catholic heritage and identity, and greatly enriches the meaning and importance of the solemnities celebrated, which would be utterly lost if their observance were transferred to the nearest Sunday.
These days are, far from being a burden, a great joy to us—and if we genuinely cannot get to Mass, we have not sinned. Blending them into the normal run of Sundays will serve only to downplay these feasts.
Even if the relevant dicastery of the Holy See grants consent to the transferral of the feast, such consent would not oblige every bishop to implement the same in his diocese. I appeal to our bishops to retain the feasts on the traditional days.
Perhaps bishops might, as an alternative, authorise the celebration of the feasts on the nearest Sunday, in rural parishes, priestless communities, and the like—but retain the norm as the general rule.
Please, bishops, keep our feasts!
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