Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic feast celebrating Mary's conception without sin. Even though this feast day occurs in the liturgical season of Advent, which prepares for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.

This day is a holy day of obligation and Masses at the Cathedral will be celebrated at 7:00 AM  and 12:10 PM.
 

In 1854, Pius IX issued the Apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the saviour of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin." This marked no actual change in doctrine, but rather marked the first instance of formal definition of the dogma.