Feast Days

[Nathan]

What is the meaning/purpose of "feast days," named after the saints?

Are Catholics actually encouraged to have "feasts" in honor of particular saints on their respective feast days?

Thanks.

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
10/18 - St. Luke

Nathan,

Feast days have a twofold spiritual purpose. First, we praise and give thanks to Almighty God for His graces that he has given to us, particularly in the life of a particular saint or in the gift of a particular grace (i.e. the Resurrection, the dedication of churches, &c.). Second, we use that saint's life as a model for our own action, and annually are reminded of their lives of virtue so that we may imitate them.

Yes, we should each have a number of feast days. The Church gives us a number of them throughout the year - from well known ones like Christmas and Easter to the lesser-known-yet-awesome like the Beheading of John the Baptist or the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. We should each have a number of our own feast days, like the day of the dedication of your parish and of our diocesan cathedral(s), your Confirmation saint's feast, the day of your Baptism/Confirmation/Marriage/Ordination, and any other special saints who have chosen you as one for whom they especially pray.

In order to observe feasts, one must first learn how to fast - for instance, on feast days like today I will smoke a pipe, do a little less work than normal, and take dessert with my supper. These are things I don't normally do, so that when I do them I will know that it is a feast. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono