This year’s Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception was especially confusing. No, I am not referring to the widespread (?) misunderstanding that the day celebrates the conception of the infant Jesus. (I learned recently that some clergy are so afflicted.)
The confusion this year derives in part from the practice, since the liturgical reforms of Pope St. Paul VI, of transferring the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception when it falls on a Sunday to the Monday immediately following. In the 1962 missal, Sundays of Advent have pride of place, if you will, over feasts in the liturgical calendar, with one exception: the Immaculate Conception. It was not always thus. Trads (like me) may be surprised to learn that the practice of Immaculate Conception superseding any Sunday in Advent in the universal calendar is a twentieth-century liturgical innovation.
In the United States, however, we have a unique opportunity to resolve the confusion, and, more importantly, honor Our Lady. The Immaculate Conception is patroness of the United States. She has been since 1846. The USCCB should simply declare that her solemnity supersedes the Sunday of Advent on which it should it so fall and no matter in which rite. This act will give emphasis in our imaginations to her patronage and loving care of the faithful of the United States.
It will also clear up any confusion about whether assisting at holy Mass on this day is obliged or not. The American bishops agreed some time ago that when the solemnity fell on a Sunday in Advent and, consequently, observation was transferred to the Monday immediately following, the faithful’s obligation to assist at Monday’s Mass was dispensed. I’m going to say flat out: bad decision! But look, I see the unhappy fruit of bad decisions that I make on a quotidian basis. The grace is recognizing the miss and correcting it. Mary is our patroness, for goodness’ sake.
Oh, and while I’m on the topic, let’s just do away with the practice of dispensing or transferring any holy day of obligation—and I mean all ten. Yes, ten. Don’t believe me? Check out Canon 1246 of the 1983 Code. Epiphany, St. Joseph, Corpus Christi, and St. Peter and Paul are holy days of obligation. Think ten is a lot? That “progressive,” Pope Saint Pius X, reduced the number from thirty-six!
In fact, I’ve long held that Annunciation should be a Holy Day of Obligation. So, let’s turn it up to eleven!