"White - Double - 1st Class - Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary"
The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was instituted to solemnize the exalted dignity bestowed upon her through a special grace of God, and in behalf of the merits of Chirst - a dignity and choice that preserved her from the least stain of original sin.
We must look kto the Orient for the first indications of this feast . In the Eastern Church it was observed as early as the seventh century, and in the Western Church it became known in the ninth century. Pope Sixtus IV introduced it (1476) into the Roman Church; Pope Gregory XV gave to it (1622) the title, "conception B.V.M. Immaculatae"; Innocent XII raised it (1693) to a feast of the 2nd class with an octave; Clement XI declared it (1708) a universal holyday; Pius IX gave it (1863) new Beviary hours and a new Mass; Leo XIII raised it (1879) to a feast of the first class with a vigil. The choice of December 8th was determined and approved solely in accordance with its tradition. - SM"
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In the US, thDec. 8th is a holy day of obligation. She is the patron Saint of the United States.
I'm sure Roger Cardinal Mahoney is disappointed he can't give this feast a pass, as he will do with Jan 1st in 2010 (once again for at least the 3rd year running.)
Note that in the older calendars this feast used to be an Octave. no Octave for the '62 Missal.
If Mahony had his way, we would have no holy days of obligation at all...wait...hold on...yes, there would be May 31 St. Cesar Chavez, April 22 Our Lady of Immigration Reform and Feb 27 St Roger Mahony
ReplyDeleteHaha--Cesar Chavez. You brought back a flashback -- my Frosh year at UCSD, when finding conservs was hard. There were about 5 or 6 of us in the Young Americans for Freedom group (details are fuzzy, but I believe the movement was started with the assistance of WFBuckley, Jr. I can remember that year was one that Chavez was organizing boycotts of Gallo and the lettuce growers. We gave out free tossed salad and used Gallo Wine as dressing.
ReplyDeleteSome of the libs were absolutely hysterical. Thanks for the memory!
No Problem Gem, that's what I'm here for....
ReplyDelete