Devotees flock to the Manila Cathedral in observance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2020. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA - The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is usually celebrated by the Catholic Church on December 8.

But for 2024, it will be different since the liturgical celebration of the feast will be transferred to December 9.

This is because December 8 this year falls on Sunday, which coincides with the celebration of the second Sunday of Advent.

Advent is the beginning of the Church's liturgical year. It is the period of preparation leading to Christmas, the celebration of the birth or incarnation of Jesus.

In a circular released last November 14, the Archdiocese of Manila explained that under the norms of Liturgical Calendar, the Sunday of Advent takes precedence over the solemnity when the two celebrations fall on the same day.

"May we remind you that this year's celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated on 9 December, Monday," Fr. Carmelo Arada, the archdiocese's vice chancellor, said in the circular.

"Solemnities that fall on a Sunday of Advent or Lent are 'transferred to the following Monday unless they occur on Palm Sunday or on Sunday of the Lord's Ressurection."

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is also a holy day of obligation for Catholics, meaning they are required to attend the Holy Mass.

But in deference to Filipino daily wage earners, the Vatican has approved the petition of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that the faithful will no longer be obliged to attend the Holy Mass on December 9.

"The Philippine bishops made this request considering that it would be difficult or even impossible for many Filipino Catholics to go to Mass on a working day since they are daily wage earners and rely on this for their family's sustenance," said Ilagan Bishop David William Antonio, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy.

"The Dicastery responded positively to the request, stating that 'the obligation to attend Mass does not apply this year.' Thus, even if the celebration of the Solemnity is transferred to December 9, 2024, the faithful is no longer obliged to participate in the Mass on that day."

Meanwhile, as of writing, there is no report from Malacañang if the holiday declaration will also be moved on Monday.

Under Republic Act 10966, December 8 is considered a special non-working holiday in the entire country to commemorate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the principal patroness of the Philippines.

It was enacted into law by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception is the belief that Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception. In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma through the papal bull "Ineffabilis Deus."

It is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church, along with declarations of Mary's perpetual virginity, her assumption to heaven, and being the mother of God. 

Filipino Catholics not obliged to attend Dec 9 Mass for Feast of Immaculate Conception