59th sayings of light and love (St John of the Cross)

This way of life contains very little business and bustling, and demands mortification of the will more than knowledge. The less one takes of things and pleasures the farther one advances along this way.

Why is the Immaculate Conception celebrated today and not on Saturday?

 

Today, in Ireland at least, we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which fell yesterday on the 2nd Sunday in Advent.  According to the General Instruction in the Divine Office (Page xcvi) it should transfer to Saturday, not Monday.  There is a reference to “Norms for the Liturgical Year”, n. 5. 

So I went looking for that on line and I found two versions, both dated 14 Feb 1969. 

This version on EWTN library site says Saturday:

5. Because of its special importance, the Sunday celebration gives way only to solemnities or feasts of the Lord. The Sundays of the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter, however, take precedence over all solemnities and feasts of the Lord. Solemnities occurring on these Sundays are observed on the Saturdays preceding.

And this one  from the Liturgy Office of the Bishops Conference for England and Wales says Monday. 

5. Because of its special importance, the Sunday celebration gives way only to solemnities or feasts of the Lord. The Sundays of the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter, however, take precedence over all solemnities and feasts of the Lord.  Solemnities occurring on these Sundays are transferred to the following Monday except in the case of their occurrence on Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) or on Easter Sunday.

What's the story? Usually when you amend a set of norms you reissue them with a new date.  I presume it is something to do with the introduction of Saturday vigil Masses which make it problemmatic to transfer a solemnity. 

Noticed this in the Norms as well:

58 For the pastoral advantage of the faithful, it is permissible to observe on the Sundays in Ordinary Time those celebrations that fall during the week and have special appeal to the devotion of the faithful, provided the celebrations take precedence over these Sundays in the Table of Liturgical Days. The Mass for such celebrations may be used at all the Masses at which the people are present.

Wonder how many priests ever chose to do that.  SS Peter and Paul could be candidate.  And plenty of others.

I'm fine by the way, thanks for asking.