This weekend, Catholics around the world have the blessed opportunity to attend Mass TWICE!
With the traditional date of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception falling on the Second Sunday of Advent this year, which takes liturgical precedence, the pivotal feast day — the patronal feast day of the United States of America! — is transferred to the next day, Monday, December 9.
In the past, the obligation to attend Mass on a transferred Holy Day of Obligation was not transferred along with the feast day, when it fell on a Monday. This year and in the future, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is and will continue always to be a Holy Day of Obligation.
The change comes through a response from the Vatican to an inquiry from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) earlier this year. According to the bishops' statement, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, sought clarification from the Vatican about "the obligation to attend Mass when a Holy Day of Obligation in Advent, Lent or Easter falls on Sunday and the solemnity is transferred to Monday."
Communicating the response in a memo dated Thursday, October 10, Bishop Paprocki said, "The feast must be observed as a day of obligation on the day to which it is transferred." Thus, Monday, December 9, 2024, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation.
The change does not affect the normal obligation to attend Mass on every Sunday of the year, which means that Catholics have the blessed opportunity to attend Mass twice over the weekend to celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
To satisfy both obligations, you may schedule your Mass attendance as follows:
A Mass on Saturday Evening (after 4:00 p.m.) and a Mass on Monday
A Mass on Saturday Evening (after 4:00 p.m.) and a Mass on Sunday Evening (after 4:00 p.m.)
A Mass on Sunday Morning/Early Afternoon (before 4:00 p.m.) and a Mass on Sunday Evening (after 4:00 p.m.)
A Mass on Sunday Morning/Early Afternoon (before 4:00 p.m.) and a Mass on Monday
A Mass on Sunday Evening (after 4:00 p.m.) and a Mass on Monday
Note: Even though a Mass on Sunday evening may fulfill the obligation of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, these Masses will still utilize the Mass of the Second Sunday of Advent, which takes liturgical precedence.
In the Archdiocese of Denver, this twofer also coincides with the beginning of the Days of Prayer to Mary, dedicated days to honor our Blessed Mother with prayer, reflection and sacrifice as we walk with her towards the Nativity of Our Lord, which run from Sunday, December 8 to Thursday, December 12. These days include the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the feast of Our Lady of Loreto and the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Needless to say, there are plenty of invitations to slow down and turn to the Lord through our Blessed Mother this Advent season!
Whether you find yourself in the Archdiocese of Denver or on vacation during the holiday season, there is a Mass for you! Be sure to use the Archdiocese’s Parish Locator and/or masstimes.org to find the Mass that works best for you!
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