Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on Dec. 9 is a Holy Day of Obligation

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, commemorating Mary’s preservation from original sin at the moment of her conception, is one of the most important Marian feasts in the liturgical calendar. It is typically observed on Dec. 8 as a holy day of obligation. However, this year, Dec. 8 coincides with the Second Sunday of Advent, which takes precedence in the liturgical calendar. As a result, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception has been transferred to Dec. 9, 2024, and is observed as a holy day of obligation.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is one of several feast days honoring Mary, the Mother of God. It is one of three holy days of obligation dedicated to her, along with the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on Jan. 1, and the Solemnity of the Assumption on Aug. 15.

According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Mary was preserved from the time of her conception from Original Sin. We call this the Immaculate Conception. No sin would touch her so that she would be a fitting and worthy vessel of the Son of God.” Even before this teaching was officially proclaimed, longstanding tradition upheld the belief that Mary was conceived without sin.

This solemnity invites the faithful to reflect on Mary’s unique role in salvation history and her example of purity and devotion to God.

Guidelines for Mass attendance in the Archdiocese of Newark are available online at www.rcan.org/the-solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-is-a-holy-day-of-obligation.

Mass times can be found on your parish website, social media channels, or by contacting the parish directly. Visit the Parish Locator on the homepage of www.rcan.org for more information.