In 2024, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated on Monday, December 9th for those in the U.S.A., Canada, and some other countries, and in some areas it is a Holy Day of Obligation (it is necessary to attend Mass). Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, wrote to the Holy See seeking clarification 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. In a memo to the U.S. bishops dated October 10, Bishop Paprocki communicated the Dicastery for Legislative Text’s response: “the feast must be observed as a day of obligation on the day to which it is transferred.” In light of this new directive, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Monday, December 9, 2024 is to be observed as a holy day of obligation.
Since Sundays of Advent outrank solemnities on the Table of Liturgical Days, all Masses on December 8 should be for the Second Sunday of Advent. A vigil Mass for the Immaculate Conception cannot be celebrated at any hour on Sunday, December 8.
In a memo to the United States Bishops dated Thursday, October 10, 2024, Bishop Paprocki communicated the Dicastery for Legislative Texts’s response: “the feast must be observed as a day of obligation on the day to which it is transferred.”
In light of this new directive, the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday, December 9, 2024, is to be observed as a holy day of obligation this year.
For parishes that have a regular Sunday Evening Mass: This Mass is to be for the Second Sunday of Advent.
For parishes that might plan a Vigil Mass for the Holy Day on Sunday evening, it is to be clearly communicated that this Mass is for the holyday and does not fulfill the Sunday obligation.
In addition to every Sunday, the days to be observed as holy days of obligation in the Latin rite arch/dioceses of the United States of America include the following solemnities: Mary, Mother of God (January 1); the Ascension of the Lord (Forty Days after Easter); the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15); All Saints (November 1); Nativity of the Lord [Christmas] (December 25).
Whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God; or August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin; or November 1, the solemnity of All Saints falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is lifted. The faithful, however, are encouraged to attend Mass on those days.
Other Upcoming 2024 Holy Days of Obligation:November 1, 2024 – All Saints’ Day
December 9, 2024 (Moved from Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024) – The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
December 25, 2024 – The Birth of Our Lord, Christmas
Certain churches are exempt from the transfer and will celebrate the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8th.
Sources: https://doy.org/solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-liturgical-advisory/
https://bostoncatholic.org/holy-days-of-obligation
https://resources.catholicaoc.org/divine-worship-and-sacraments/news/holy-day-of-obligation-mon-dec-9-2024
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