🌌Midnight Mass
🎼Introit (Ps 2:7, 1)
Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. Ps. Quare fremuerunt gentes: et populi meditati sunt inania?
The Lord hath said to me: Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee. Ps. Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things?
✉️Epistle (Ti 2:11-15)
Dearly beloved: The grace of God our Savior hath appeared to all men, instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ: who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to Himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak and exhort: in Christ Jesus our Lord.
📜Gospel (Lk 2:1-14)
At that time, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night-watches over their flock. And behold an Angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them, and they feared with a great fear. And the Angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I proclaim to you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: for this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.
🌅Mass at Dawn
🎼Introit (Is 9:2, 6)
Lux fulgebit hodie super nos: quia natus est nobis Dominus: et vocabitur Admirabilis, Deus, Princeps pacis, Pater futuri saeculi: cujus regni non erit finis. Ps. Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est: indutus est Dominus fortitudinem, et praecinxit se.
✉️Epistle (Ti 2:11-15)
Dearly beloved: The grace of God our Savior hath appeared to all men, instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ: who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to Himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak and exhort: in Christ Jesus our Lord.
📜Gospel (Lk 2:1-14)
At that time, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night-watches over their flock. And behold an Angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them, and they feared with a great fear. And the Angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I proclaim to you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: for this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.
🌅Mass at Dawn
🎼Introit (Is 9:2, 6)
Lux fulgebit hodie super nos: quia natus est nobis Dominus: et vocabitur Admirabilis, Deus, Princeps pacis, Pater futuri saeculi: cujus regni non erit finis. Ps. Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est: indutus est Dominus fortitudinem, et praecinxit se.
A light shall shine upon us this day: for our Lord is born to us: and He shall be called Wonderful, God, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the world to come: of whose kingdom there shall be no end. Ps. The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself.
✉️Epistle (Ti 3:4-7)
Dearly beloved: The goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared: not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost, whom He hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior: that, being justified by His grace, we may be heirs according to hope of life everlasting: in Christ Jesus our Lord.
📜Gospel (Lk 2:15-20)
At that time, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us. And they came with haste: and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. And all that heard wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
☀️Mass during the Day
🎼Introit (Is 9:6; Ps 97:1)
Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis: cujus imperium super humerum ejus: et vocabitur nomen ejus magni consilii Angelus. Ps. Cantate Domino canticum novum, quia mirabilia fecit.
✉️Epistle (Ti 3:4-7)
Dearly beloved: The goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared: not by the works of justice which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost, whom He hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior: that, being justified by His grace, we may be heirs according to hope of life everlasting: in Christ Jesus our Lord.
📜Gospel (Lk 2:15-20)
At that time, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us. And they came with haste: and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. And all that heard wondered: and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
☀️Mass during the Day
🎼Introit (Is 9:6; Ps 97:1)
Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis: cujus imperium super humerum ejus: et vocabitur nomen ejus magni consilii Angelus. Ps. Cantate Domino canticum novum, quia mirabilia fecit.
A Child is born to us, and a Son is given to us: whose government is upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called the Angel of Great Counsel. Ps. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because He hath done wonderful things.
✉️Epistle (Heb 1:1-12)
God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all, in these days, hath spoken to us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the world. Who being the brightness of His glory, and the figure of His substance, and upholding all things by the word of His power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the Majesty on high: being made so much better than the Angels, as He hath inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the Angels hath He said at any time: Thou art My Son, today have I begotten Thee? And again: I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, He saith: And let all the Angels of God adore Him. And to the Angels indeed He saith: He that maketh His Angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of justice is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth: and the works of Thy hands are the heavens. They shall perish, but Thou shalt continue: and they shall all grow old as a garment: and as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the self-same, and Thy years shall not fail.
📜Gospel (Jn 1:1-14)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him: and without Him was made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men: and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, He gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in His name: who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us (and we saw His glory, the glory as it were of the only-begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
💎The Splendor of the Word in the Humility of the Flesh
🕊️The Nativity of Christ reveals the divine paradox where infinite Majesty becomes small to elevate humanity to the dignity of children of God. As Saint Augustine teaches, He who created man became man, so that man might become God by adoption, being born of a mother who remained a virgin just as Truth is born from the mind without corruption (Sermon 185, 1). The liturgy of this day, especially in the Prologue of Saint John, presents the mystery of the Word who, being God, assumes flesh to be the light that illuminates the darkness of human ignorance. Saint Thomas Aquinas states that the Incarnation was the most convenient means for our salvation, for in it humanity finds the perfect model of justice and the supreme incentive for charity, uniting the visible to the invisible (Summa Theologica, III, q. 1, a. 2). The Roman Missal, through the three masses, travels the path from the silence of midnight to the brightness of full day, symbolizing the progression of the soul that recognizes the Savior in the manger and confesses Him as King of the Universe. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that Christmas is the mystery of the "wonderful exchange," where God assumes our poverty to communicate His wealth to us (CCC 526). The Epistle to the Hebrews corroborates this truth by declaring that the Son is the brightness of the Father's glory, upholding the universe by His word, while the Gospel of Luke reminds us that this same God-King chose the manger and the company of shepherds as His throne and court. This solemnity invites the faithful to a sobriety of life and an inner renewal in the Holy Spirit, looking forward with hope to the second glorious coming of Him who, today, appears to us in the fragility of a Child.
🗓️See English version of the critical articles here.
✉️Epistle (Heb 1:1-12)
God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all, in these days, hath spoken to us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the world. Who being the brightness of His glory, and the figure of His substance, and upholding all things by the word of His power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the Majesty on high: being made so much better than the Angels, as He hath inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the Angels hath He said at any time: Thou art My Son, today have I begotten Thee? And again: I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, He saith: And let all the Angels of God adore Him. And to the Angels indeed He saith: He that maketh His Angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of justice is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth: and the works of Thy hands are the heavens. They shall perish, but Thou shalt continue: and they shall all grow old as a garment: and as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the self-same, and Thy years shall not fail.
📜Gospel (Jn 1:1-14)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him: and without Him was made nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men: and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, He gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in His name: who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us (and we saw His glory, the glory as it were of the only-begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
💎The Splendor of the Word in the Humility of the Flesh
🕊️The Nativity of Christ reveals the divine paradox where infinite Majesty becomes small to elevate humanity to the dignity of children of God. As Saint Augustine teaches, He who created man became man, so that man might become God by adoption, being born of a mother who remained a virgin just as Truth is born from the mind without corruption (Sermon 185, 1). The liturgy of this day, especially in the Prologue of Saint John, presents the mystery of the Word who, being God, assumes flesh to be the light that illuminates the darkness of human ignorance. Saint Thomas Aquinas states that the Incarnation was the most convenient means for our salvation, for in it humanity finds the perfect model of justice and the supreme incentive for charity, uniting the visible to the invisible (Summa Theologica, III, q. 1, a. 2). The Roman Missal, through the three masses, travels the path from the silence of midnight to the brightness of full day, symbolizing the progression of the soul that recognizes the Savior in the manger and confesses Him as King of the Universe. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that Christmas is the mystery of the "wonderful exchange," where God assumes our poverty to communicate His wealth to us (CCC 526). The Epistle to the Hebrews corroborates this truth by declaring that the Son is the brightness of the Father's glory, upholding the universe by His word, while the Gospel of Luke reminds us that this same God-King chose the manger and the company of shepherds as His throne and court. This solemnity invites the faithful to a sobriety of life and an inner renewal in the Holy Spirit, looking forward with hope to the second glorious coming of Him who, today, appears to us in the fragility of a Child.
🗓️See English version of the critical articles here.