The whole business of Holy Days of Obligation has always struck me as a little odd (leaving aside the whole issue of "Obligation" in an age when so few Catholics feel obliged to go near a church at all, ever). Why is it that the Catholic Church allows Holy Days of Obligation to be determined by national boundaries?
Yesterday, March 17 was a Holy Day of Obligation in Ireland, but not, as far as I know, anywhere else on Earth. Certainly not in the US. I've been told that in Canada the only Holy Day of Obligation is Christmas Day. I'm hoping someone out there (and, yes, Mark, I'm thinking of you in particular) can shed some light on this matter for me.
