The meaning of the celebration
+ Since the fourth century, Christians in the West have celebrated the feast of the Nativity of Christ on the 25th day of December.
+ Marking the beginning of the Christmas Season, the Church celebrates the three comings of Christ: in history in his birth in Bethlehem, in mystery as he is born within us each day, and in majesty as we celebrate that he will come again at the end of time.
+ The Christmas Season begins at sundown on December 24 and continues until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday following the Epiphany.
For prayer and reflection
“In Bethlehem, as crowds of people were caught up in the excitement of the census, coming and going, filling the inns and engaged in petty conversation, a few were close to Jesus: Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and then the Magi. Let us learn from them. They stood gazing upon Jesus, with their hearts set on him. They did not speak, they worshiped. Tonight, brothers and sisters, is the time to worship.”—Pope Francis
Spiritual Bonus
On December 25, the Church also remembers the martyr Saint Anastasia. According to tradition, Anastasia cared for Christians who were in prison during the persecution of Diocletian, she eventually traveled to Aquileia to minister to the persecuted Christians there; for this reason she is honored as “Anastasia the Healer” by the Eastern Churches. She was eventually arrested and executed around the year 304. Devotion to Saint Anastasia dates back to the time of her martyrdom and she is mentioned in the Roman Canon (the First Eucharistic Prayer). For centuries, the Pope sang the second Mass of Christmas in the Roman Church dedicated to her memory.
Prayer
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, as we are bathed in the new radiance of your incarnate Word,
the light of faith, which illumines our minds,
may also shine through in our deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Christmas Mass “at Dawn”)
Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...