HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION: December 8, Immaculate Conception
This Saturday (December 8) is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and is a Holy Day of Obligation. It is this day that we celebrate what Pope Pius IX defined infallibly (this is dogma and cannot change): “The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception… in view of the merits of Jesus Christ… was preserved free from all stain of original sin.” Remember that Christ was around for creation, and even played a part in it as the second Person of the Trinity—God the Son. So his merits and power certainly were capable of redeeming Mary even before the Paschal event.
In Luke 1:28 the angel Gabriel, speaking on God’s behalf, addresses Mary as “full of grace” (or “highly favored”). In that context this phrase means that Mary is receiving all the special divine help necessary for the task ahead. However, the Church grows in understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led the Church, especially non-theologians, to the insight that Mary had to be the most perfect work of God next to the Incarnation. Or rather, Mary’s intimate association with the Incarnation called for the special involvement of God in Mary’s whole life. (…) Moreover, this great privilege of Mary is the highlight of all that God has done in Jesus. Rightly understood, the incomparable holiness of Mary shows forth the incomparable goodness of God.
The greatest way of celebrating such a wonderful act of God, and such a holy person to have lived with us on earth, is to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Thus, we are obligated as Christians, with this being such a noble and necessary truth to believe, to attend Mass on Saturday as if it were a Sunday. Remember, going to Mass Saturday night will only count as the Sunday Vigil, and will not fulfill your obligation for December 8. Going to Mass twice in a day, or twice in two days only means more graces for you! How could you resist such a gift?
**Remember, if you deliberately do not make a Mass for December 8 and another Mass for Sunday December 9, you put your soul in grave risk of mortal sin.
**Portion in italics is from http://americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1223
In Luke 1:28 the angel Gabriel, speaking on God’s behalf, addresses Mary as “full of grace” (or “highly favored”). In that context this phrase means that Mary is receiving all the special divine help necessary for the task ahead. However, the Church grows in understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led the Church, especially non-theologians, to the insight that Mary had to be the most perfect work of God next to the Incarnation. Or rather, Mary’s intimate association with the Incarnation called for the special involvement of God in Mary’s whole life. (…) Moreover, this great privilege of Mary is the highlight of all that God has done in Jesus. Rightly understood, the incomparable holiness of Mary shows forth the incomparable goodness of God.
The greatest way of celebrating such a wonderful act of God, and such a holy person to have lived with us on earth, is to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Thus, we are obligated as Christians, with this being such a noble and necessary truth to believe, to attend Mass on Saturday as if it were a Sunday. Remember, going to Mass Saturday night will only count as the Sunday Vigil, and will not fulfill your obligation for December 8. Going to Mass twice in a day, or twice in two days only means more graces for you! How could you resist such a gift?
**Remember, if you deliberately do not make a Mass for December 8 and another Mass for Sunday December 9, you put your soul in grave risk of mortal sin.
**Portion in italics is from http://americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1223
posted by Scott the Seminarian at 7:48 AM
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