2nd Sunday of Advent

Dear Parishioners, 

We can never be too well-informed about important things, especially in our spiritual lives as members of the worldwide Catholic Church. And there is a saying that goes “everything old is new again,” indicating that practices and ways of doing things go out of use and come back into use. Such is the case with the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this year. For quite a while now, the bishops of the United States, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops – the USCCB – have lifted the obligation for Catholics to attend Mass if the holyday falls on a Saturday or a Monday; however, since the Immaculate Conception has been transferred this year from Sunday 12/8 to Monday 12/9, and Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception is the Patroness of the United States, Rome has instructed the bishops to uphold the obligation for Catholics to attend Mass on December 9 this year because of the importance of this dogma of our faith. In addition, since 12/8 – always the Immaculate Conception – falls on a Sunday this year, the Second Sunday of Advent takes precedence as a Sunday over Immaculate Conception, which has been transferred to Monday 12/9 this year. Therefore, from our “headquarters” in Rome, to fulfill our Sunday obligation and our Immaculate Conception obligation, we need to attend Mass twice between 4 p.m. Saturday 12/7 and by midnight Monday 12/9. There will be no vigil Masses for the Immaculate Conception on Sunday evening 12/8, but a Sunday evening Mass on 12/8 will fulfill the obligation for the Immaculate Conception even though the Mass readings and prayers will be for the Second Sunday of Advent. This obligation does not apply to Catholics who are unable to attend Mass due to old age, illness, mobility issues or work obligations. Even only 25 to 30 years ago, we may have had to go to Mass two days in a row for a Sunday and a holyday of obligation, but that certainly didn’t “kill us.” Rome is just giving us a little nudge to remind us that we can never “do too much for God,” yet it is for our own spiritual benefit and growth that sometimes we are called to “go the extra mile” in our faith journey. Our Mother Mary will help us.