Dear Parishioners:
O Come, O Come,
Emmanuel! We sing this song many times
in the days leading up to Christmas.
Christ’s Coming is the heart of our Christmas Celebration. In a world that is striving to become
secular, it is our responsibility to proclaim the simple truth that God has penetrated
the very fabric of being that there truly is no such thing as secular.
“Happy Holidays” has hidden
within it “Holy Days.” “Merry Christmas”
includes a reminder that the best and truest way to celebrate Christmas is to
be present at “Mass” – “Christ Mass.”
There are four Masses
proper to Christmas: the Vigil Mass, which is becoming ever more popular; Mass
at Night (the traditional Midnight Mass, which is often celebrated a bit earlier
than Midnight); Mass at Dawn (even the non-Catholic Christians many times hold
a “Sunrise Service”; and Mass at Day.
Each Mass has a proper set of readings to tell the whole story of the Nativity. It is a beautiful experience to participate
in at least a couple of the different Masses.
If you are looking for
a calmer experience, it is best to attend the Masses of Christmas Day. For the pageantry and chaos, plan to be
present for the first Vigil Mass, which features the Children’s Choir. All of the Mases have beautiful Christmas music,
including the traditional hymns of Christmas.
The most important thing
to remember is that the Christmas Season begins with Christmas. It goes on through the Feast of the Holy
Family, Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord.
Some communities hold onto it until the Solemnity of the Presentation of
the Lord February 2nd, also known as “Candlemas Day.” Advent and Christmas remind us that God is
with us in the midst of our human experience.
It is the task of believers to share the Good News with the whole world:
Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord!
Come to Mass at
Christmas and be ready to celebrate with joy!
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