This year the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (8 December) falls on a Sunday and coincides, from a liturgical point of view, with the second Sunday of Advent. Which of the two has priority?
Generally the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary they do not have precedence on Sundays of strong times (Advent and Lent). However, in consideration of the devotion to the Virgin Mary of the Italian people, the Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, on behalf of the Italian bishops, asked that, exceptionally for this year, theThe Italian Church can still celebrate the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on 8 December.
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, with a letter signed by Cardinal Artur Rochetherefore granted the Italian Church the possibility of celebrating the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December. Recommending, however, to preserve the celebratory sense of Advent as well, which the Liturgy of the Hours remains that of the Second Sunday of Advent.
In the Ambrosian Rite the Immaculate Conception is “slipped” to December 9th
As regards the Ambrosian Rite, which concerns the archdiocese of Milan, according to the rules that regulate the Ambrosian liturgical calendar, this year the 4th Sunday of Advent is celebrated on 8 Decemberwhile the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is postponed to Monday 9 December to respect the centrality of Sunday as the Lord’s Day. However, meeting the requests of many communities, Archbishop Mario Delpini has granted a special exemption allowing the celebration of the Immaculate Conception also on Sunday while the Liturgy of the Hours will be that of the Fourth Sunday of Advent.
Monday 9 December it will be the day dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. All masses and the Liturgy of the Hours will celebrate this Marian solemnity.
Pope Francis’ homage to the Immaculate Conception in Piazza di Spagna
This year too, as usual, Pope Francis will pay homage to the statue of the Virgin Mary in Piazza Mignanelli, next to Piazza di Spagna, in Rome. A tradition that has been repeated since 1953. Francis will arrive at 4 pm, according to a press release from the diocese of Rome, and will be welcomed by cardinal vicar Angelo De Donatis and by civil authorities. Then the Pope will pray in front of the monument and leave flowers at the base of the column.
There will be many groups and organizations of citizens who will pay homage to Mary, starting with the Fire Brigade, who will place a wreath of flowers on the arm of the statue of the Madonna on top of the monument, inaugurated by the firefighters on 8 December 1857. Among others groups will also be present the corporate units of the Acli of Rome, of Atac-Cotral, Acea, Inps-Inpdap and the employees of Roma Capitale.
They will take care of the reception throughout the day the Franciscans of the Basilica of the Holy XII Apostles, who will liven up the day with songs and moments of prayer, receiving the brotherhoods, lay groups and parishes who will bring their floral homage to the Madonna. “It’s not just a matter of placing the flowers in an orderly manner, but above all of maintaining, on a day of celebration and joy, an atmosphere of reflection that can truly encourage the meeting with Mary”, he explains in the press release. brother Angelo Sforzaparish priest of the Basilica. Behind the column there will be priests for confessions and there will also be young clerics students of the Seraphicum, the group of street evangelizers of the Franciscan Reveille and some lay people of the Militia of the Immaculate, founded by Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
