This Is The Best Destination for the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception
One of the most beautiful Holy Days of Advent is upon us: the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
Taking place on December 9th (2024), the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the doctrine that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin. This belief was formally defined as dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854 through the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus, though it had been honored in Church tradition for centuries.
The day is important to Catholics because it highlights Mary’s unique role in salvation history as the sinless vessel chosen to bear Christ. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in many countries, emphasizing its significance in the liturgical calendar and its connection to the Advent season.
In honor of this most holy of days, we invite you to take a pilgrimage to the aptly-named Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta, Georgia:
Dedicated in 1873 (and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976), the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception has a history that dates back even further, as its roots can be traced back to the 1840s when immigrant priests would hold services in the homes of area Irish Catholics.
Billed as one of the oldest buildings in Atlanta, the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception boasts striking Gothic Revival architecture on the outside and a truly stunning interior complete with a granite stairway, four-story belltower, twelve chandeliers, and fifty stained glass windows.
During your visit to the Shrine, you are welcome to not only enjoy the beauty of this sacred place but also to pray before the Blessed Sacrament or at the altar of the Blessed Mother.
The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is open to pilgrims and visitors on weekdays during office hours (Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
Would you like to take a guided tour of this spiritual wonder? Tour requests are available in advance by calling (404)-521-1866.
Before you go, check out the Shrine's calendar of upcoming events, as the Immaculate Conception hosts everything from requiem concerts to seasonal festivals and special prayer services.
Mass at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception takes place Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 12:10 p.m., Saturdays at 9 a.m., and Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
To learn more about the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, please visit their website.