Churchgoers  attend a pre-dawn mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cubao on December 16, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — 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, 2024, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

 This year, the traditional December 8 feast day coincided with the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is considered of higher rank than the Marian feast, hence the celebration was transferred to December 9.

Solemnity of Immaculate Conception 2024 moved to December 9

 Earlier, various archdioceses and dioceses said that the obligation to attend the Holy Mass was also transferred to December 9 when the solemnity was moved from its original December 8 date.

 But in a clarification released on Friday, November 29, 2024, the CBCP announced that the Vatican's Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments approved their petition.

 "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."

 The bishop also apologized for the confusion.

 "We apologize for the confusion, considering our desire to communicate as early as possible a clarification on the issue. We thank the Holy See for the positive and compassionate response."

 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.

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

 As of writing, there is no report from Malacañang if the holiday declaration will also be moved to Monday.

 The Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception is the principal patroness of the Philippines.

 Many churches across the country are dedicated under this particular Marian title and the feast is usually celebrated with much pomp and pageantry.

 In Intramuros in Manila, the Grand Marian Procession attracts thousands of devotees to witness the parade of over a hundred images of Mary.

 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.