CATHOLIC HEADS-UP: Saturday, December 8 is a Holy Day of Obligation, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Requiring Mass Attendance, With Opportunities Starting Friday Evening With Vigil Mass

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8 is a Holy Day of Obligation, requiring Mass attendance, absent a valid excuse, with opportunities to participate in Mass starting with Vigil Masses the evening before. [Click here for Mass Readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.]

Failure to keep the Obligation to participate in Mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation is a grave sin. Grave sin bars one from receiving Holy Communion, unless and until there is repentance and absolution through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (i.e., a valid Confession).

While some Parishes or other Catholic churches might have schedules that they anticipate using for Holy Days, it might be helpful to double-check the most recent bulletin, or visit the relevant church website, to see if there are specific announcements about the Mass schedule for All Saints Day.

Church bulletins additionally often have a special section for Mass intentions, which, in the process, of course, also would be setting out times when Masses are occurring.One valid excuse to miss Mass might be a sufficiently serious illness or a sufficiently serious need to stay home caring for a sick family member, such as a sick child.

Going beyond the Obligation to participate in a Mass, the Catechism of the Catholic Church has a somewhat elaborate and extensive understanding of what is involved with keeping Holy the Sabbath, such as including rest and acts of Mercy, and seems to envision treating Holy Days of Obligation in a manner similar to the Sunday Sabbaths. Indeed, the latest Catechism calls for Catholics to work towards Holy Days of Obligation becoming legal holidays.

Additional Links:

• The Sunday obligation – Catechism of the Catholic Church/VaticanVa
• Canon 1246, §2 – Holy Days of Obligation – USCCB
• MassTimes.org – generalized Mass times information, links to Parishes
• DiscoverMass – includes some Parish listings, bulletins, generalized Mass times