Christmas

 

Christmas Nativity image

The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel." - Matthew 1:23

The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which in 2024, is on January 7  Christmas is one of the most important days of the Church year, second only to Easter itself. During the Christmas season, we celebrate the birth of Christ. It is the feast of the Incarnation, the feast of God becoming flesh. The Christmas season is a time to reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him, including the fact that Christ was born to die for us.

The Church has four Masses for Christmas – the vigil, Mass at night (traditionally at midnight), Mass at dawn, and Mass during the day.  Each holds something special for us. At the vigil, we hear of Jesus's human lineage, generation by generation.  At night, we hear of Christ's birth and the angels' joyous proclamation. The Gospel during the Mass at dawn tells of the visit of the shepherds. And the Mass on Christmas Day, taken from the prologue to the Gospel of John, ties the Incaranation to the beginning and creation: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Resources

Blessings

Christmas Tree Blessing

Christmas Tree Blessing - Loyola Press

Epiphany Home or Household Blessing

Epiphany Home Blessing with Chalk

Nativity Scene Blessing

Celebrations & Events

Christmas Events in Parishes

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina - Christmas - English

Lectio Divina - Christmas - Spanish

Lectio Divina - Epiphany - Spanish

Lectio Divina - Holy Family - English

Lectio Divina - Holy Family - Spanish

Lectio Divina - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - English

Lectio Divina - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Spanish

Mass Times

Christmas Mass Times

Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God Mass Times

Messages

Bishop Robert Deeley

Christmas Message from Bishop Deeley - 2022

Christmas Message from Bishop Deeley - 2021

New Year's Message from Bishop Deeley - 2022

Pope Francis

Midnight Mass Homily - 2022

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Message - 2022

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Message - 2021

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Message - 2020

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Message - 2019

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Message - 2018

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Message - 2017

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Message - 2016

Prayers

Christmas Prayer - Catholic Relief Services

Prayer for Peace in our Community

Prayer for Peace in our Community (Spanish)

Prayer for the New Year

Readings & Reflections

Christmas Resources from Bishop Robert Barron

Echoing God's Word - Christmas Season

Infancy Narrative - Luke 2:1-20

Infancy Narrative - Matthew 1:18-25

Readings for the Nativity of Our Lord

Saints of the Season

Saint Basil the Great & St. Gregory Nazianzen

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Saint Stephen

Additional Resources

CatholicTV, EWTN, and Relevant Radio Christmas schedules

Seven Ways to Evangelize Those We Love