Is Dec. 9 a holy day of obligation this year?

[Michie]

Question: Is Dec. 9 a day of obligation? Is this rule new? Is it just for America? (Rochester, New York)

Answer: Normally Dec. 9 is not a holy day of obligation, but it is this year in the United States due to a quirk of the calendar.

For some background, Canon 1246 of the Code of Canon Law tells us that “the Lord’s Day, on which the paschal mystery is celebrated, is by apostolic tradition to be observed in the universal Church as the primary holy day of obligation” — that is, a day where the faithful are obligated to attend Mass. “In the same way, the following holy days are to be observed: the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of St Joseph, the feast of the Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints.”

Continued below.

Is Dec. 9 a holy day of obligation this year?

The transfer of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception has led some dioceses in the U.S. to dispense their faithful from the obligation to attend Mass.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

 

[WarriorAngel]

That's a change.
It's a nice change.
Usually they skip the obligation because it's on a Sunday, in the US.

Seems the US maybe turning around.

 

[RileyG]

That's a change.
It's a nice change.
Usually they skip the obligation because it's on a Sunday, in the US.

Seems the US maybe turning around.

Good to know and hear!