The Immaculate Conception - 2018

Liturgy and Sacraments
#1

This post is for my fellow Catholics of the Roman Rite in the United States.

Here is something that should be addressed on this forum, especially since questions will certainly arise closer to the time.

The Immaculate Conception and The Second Sunday of Advent, 2018:

December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, this year (in 2018), the Immaculate Conception remains a Holy Day of Obligation, even though December 8 falls on a Saturday.

In general, the Immaculate Conception remains a Holy Day of Obligation, even if December 8 naturally falls either on a Saturday or on a Monday. This is because Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is the Patroness of the United States.

In the time frame, from Friday, December 7, to Sunday, December 9, we are obligated to attend two separate Masses for two distinct obligations: We are obligated to attend one Mass, in order to fulfill our obligation for the Holy Day (The Immaculate Conception), as well as another Mass, in order to fulfill our Sunday obligation (The Second Sunday of Advent).

Since these two obligations are distinct, they must be fulfilled by attending two separate Masses. One cannot fulfill both obligations, at once, by only attending one Mass. It is not a “two-for-one”/“two-fer.”

Which Masses (i.e., the readings, the propers, the texts, etc.) will be for the Immaculate Conception, and which will be for the Second Sunday of Advent?

Friday, December 7 (at 4 p.m. or after) - Saturday, December 8 (before 4 p.m.): The Immaculate Conception

Saturday, December 8 (at 4 p.m. or after) - Sunday, December 9 (all day): The Second Sunday of Advent

Q.: If one first attends a Mass on the evening of Saturday, December 8 (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)), then can they attend that Mass to fulfill their obligation for the Holy Day, even though the readings, the propers, and the texts of that Mass would be for the Second Sunday of Advent?

A.: Yes. However, because we are obligated to attend two separate Masses for two distinct obligations, that person must still attend another Mass, either later on, that same evening (i.e., after the first one that they attended), or some time, the following day, in order to fulfill their Sunday obligation. Again, both obligations cannot be fulfilled, at once, by only attending one Mass. The two obligations are distinct. Hence, they require attendance at two separate Masses.

To sum it up, there are six ways to fulfill both of these obligations to attend Mass:

Option #1: Mass on Friday evening (at 4 p.m. or after) + Mass on Saturday evening (at 4 p.m. or after)

Option #2: Mass on Friday evening (at 4 p.m. or after) + Mass on Sunday

Option #3: Mass on Saturday (before 4 p.m.) + Mass on Saturday evening (at 4 p.m. or after)

Option #4: Mass on Saturday (before 4 p.m.) + Mass on Sunday

Option #5: Mass on Saturday evening (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)) + Another Mass on Saturday evening (Of course, after the first Mass that they attended)

Option #6: Mass on Saturday evening (between 4 p.m. (inclusive) and Midnight (exclusive)) + Mass on Sunday

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#2

In accordance with Canon 1248.1, attending the Mass on that Saturday evening (December 8) can either fulfill the obligation for the Immaculate Conception, or for the Sunday obligation, but not for both obligations, at once.

#3

it might be better to wait until closer to December 8 when people’s dioceses will very likely be issuing some specific guidance on this.

December 8 right now is many months away. I don’t know about you, but as I sit here today, which Masses I’ll be going to on December 8 is pretty far down my list of stuff I have to think about.

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#4

I understand. On this forum, though, closer to December 8, people all over the place are going to be asking about whether or not the Immaculate Conception will be a Holy Day of Obligation, this year, due to the day that December 8 falls on (Saturday), and people on these questions of the forum will be debating like crazy. I’m just trying to put these questions to rest, by clarifying a couple of things. These questions are certainly understandable, especially because that for certain Holy Days of Obligation, the obligation to attend Mass for the Holy Day is lifted, when the day falls either on a Saturday or on a Monday. The Immaculate Conception, as the Patronal Feast of the United States, is not affected by the “Saturday-or-Monday” rule. However, there are some bishops who aren’t as well-versed in Canon Law. Bishops and worship/liturgy offices write about these types of situations, every time that these situations arise. Moreover, some of these people are not as well-versed in Canon Law. Take this particular situation, for instance. Some of these people will claim that the Saturday evening Mass won’t count for the Immaculate Conception, even though Canon 1248.1 says otherwise.

#5

Good grief, such complexity must be a real turn off for many people.

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#6

Next year (in 2019), things get a little more interesting, when it comes to the Immaculate Conception.

Since December 8 falls on a Sunday, the Immaculate Conception is transferred to the following day (Monday, December 9) (December 8 is a Sunday of Advent, and the Advent Sunday takes liturgical precedence over the Immaculate Conception). However, the obligation to attend Mass for the Immaculate Conception does not transfer over. Reason being, the obligation to attend Mass is tied to the date (December 8), and not to the particular feast (The Immaculate Conception).

#7

From what I’ve seen, most Catholics don’t think about it to this level. Their principal concerns are

  1. What is expected of me?
  2. How can I fulfill that expectation?

A Catholic’s parish generally answers both of those questions in the days or weeks preceding the feast(s) concerned.

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#8

And in the Extraordinary Form, the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on Sunday when it falls on that day. Sundays of Advent are not privileged on the 1962 kalendar.

#9

I’m sure the Dioceses will find much shorter and simpler ways to explain it to Average Joe Catholic in the pew.

If a bishop doesn’t properly follow Canon Law, it’s on his head and will not affect members of his congregation who in good faith relied on his guidance. Average Catholics are not expected to be canon law experts.

This sort of complexity is mostly the stuff dearly loved by people who do not trust the local priests and bishops and churches to explain it to them.

#10

No, this year IC falls on a Saturday, as your post later avers.

#11

Typo. Thank you for pointing that out. The original post has been edited to reflect this change.

#12
#13

I saw that document. However, my original post explains the reasoning as to why the Immaculate Conception retains the obligation to attend Mass, even when December 8 falls naturally on a Saturday or on a Monday (Because the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Patronal Feast of the United States).

Moreover, to address a comment that someone else made, I am aware that in the Extraordinary Form, the Immaculate Conception would take liturgical precedence over the Second Sunday of Advent (Hence, the Immaculate Conception would be celebrated on Sunday), if December 8 were to fall on a Sunday (Like it would, next year, in 2019).

However, I was simply addressing what happens in the Ordinary Form, when December 8 falls on a Sunday (As I have mentioned, liturgically, the Second Sunday of Advent takes priority over the Immaculate Conception, and the Immaculate Conception is then transferred to the following day (Monday, December 9)). However, when the Solemnity transfers, the obligation to attend Mass does not transfer over. Therefore, next year, in 2019, the Immaculate Conception is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation.

It should be important to know that this (when December 8 falls on a Sunday) is the only situation, in which the Immaculate Conception is not a Holy Day of Obligation.

#14

I understand where you’re getting at. I’m just pointing out (technically speaking, of course) that if someone were to first attend a Mass on that Saturday evening (Saturday, December 8) (at 4 p.m. or after), even though the Masses would already be for the Second Sunday of Advent, they could still attend that Mass to fulfill their obligation for the Immaculate Conception, as Canon Law interprets, and as a result, no mortal sin is committed (assuming that all three conditions are satisfied together). The catch is that because we are obligated to attend two separate Masses (since the two obligations are extinct), that first Saturday evening Mass will ONLY count for the Immaculate Conception. They would then be obligated to attend another Mass, either later on, that same evening, or some time the following day, in order to fulfill their Sunday obligation. We don’t get a “two-for-one” in this case. The end of my original post highlights the various ways for someone to fulfill both of these Mass obligations.

#15

Why is a Holy Day, an obligation?? Isn’t it another OPPORTUNITY to receive the Lord in the most amazing manner?
(and yes, I know the church law obligation.)

#16

You’re preaching to the choir. I try to get to Mass on as many days as possible, obligation or no.

I spent many years missing a lot of Sunday Masses. I reckon I have lots of Masses to make up and just going on Sundays is not going to cover it.

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#17

Can I attend a 4:30 Saturday Mass and a Sunday Mass because there is no evening Mass on Friday or a morning Mass on Saturday in my area?

#18

Yes, but it’s also an OBLIGATION. As with all Sundays, we are bound to attend Mass on the Holy Days of Obligation, under pain of mortal sin.

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#19

Yes, that’s what the guy above just said.

#20

The only Mass when we in the US don’t get a two-fer is Christmas.