06/12/2024
GUIDELINES FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION THIS YEAR, 2024
1. This year, 2024, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, falls on the Second Sunday of Advent.
2. Since the Second Sunday of Advent outranks the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, as can be noted from the Table of Precedence of Liturgical Days, the celebration of the latter is transferred to December 9, Monday.
3. Are Catholics obliged to attend Mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 9? Formerly, when such concurrence happens, the obligation ceases. In a new directive from the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, Dec 9 is to be observed as a holy day of obligation this year and in the future. This means that a Catholic faithful must attend Mass both on December 8 and on December 9.
4. But that is not the last word. In a response to a request of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Nov 28, 2024, pointing out that making it obligatory for Filipino Catholics to attend Mass on Dec 8 would be difficult or even impossible since they are daily wage earners and rely on this for their family’s sustenance, the Dicastery said that the FAITHFUL ARE NOT OBLIGED TO ATTEND THE MASS on that day, even though it is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
5. Can a Mass for the Immaculate Conception be celebrated in the afternoon or evening of December 8? No, all Masses of the whole day of December 8 are for the Second Sunday of Advent. There is no Vigil Mass of the Immaculate Conception.
6. Can a Funeral Mass be celebrated on December 8? No.
7. The Liturgy of the Hours for the Immaculate Conception is to be celebrated on Monday, December 9.
FROM THE CHAIR, DIOCESAN COMMISSION ON LITURGY