CATHOLIC ALERT: Monday, December 8, 2025, is a Holy Day of Obligation, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Requiring Mass Attendance
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Monday, December 8, 2025, is a Holy Day of Obligation.
That requires Mass attendance, absent a valid excuse. [Click here for Mass Readings] (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. In some cases of severe weather, a Bishop conceivably might issue a formal Dispensation for the Faithful.)
In 2025, with the Solemnity falling on a Monday, all Masses for the Solemnity are on Monday itself, with no Vigil. Masses on Sunday Dec. 7, 2025 are for the Second Sunday of Advent.
Without a valid excuse, failure to keep the Obligation to participate in Mass on Sunday, or on a Holy Day of Obligation, is a grave sin, or mortal sin.
Grave sin brings with it the presumed prospect of eternal damnation.
Yet being in such a state of grave sin also prohibits one from receiving Holy Communion, unless and until the situation is remedied by going to Confession, with repentance and absolution through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
To receive Communion while in a state of grave sin would be an additional grave sin.
While some Parishes or other Catholic churches might have schedules that they anticipate using for Holy Days, it would 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 set out times when specific Masses are occurring on specific dates.
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.
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