The
Symbolism of The 3 Christmas Masses
copied from:
www.catholiccompany.com/
Next
to Easter, Christmas is the holiest day of the year. And just as we celebrate Easter as a
Triduum of connected liturgies (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter
Vigil), so at Christmas we have something like a triduum of Masses.
There
are three Masses celebrated on Christmas Day: one at midnight, one at
dawn, and one during the day. Each Mass is distinct and highlights a
different aspect of the Christmas story.
MIDNIGHT: THE ANGELS’ MASS
According
to tradition, Jesus was born in Bethlehem at midnight. (This
tradition is recalled in the beautiful St.
Andrew Christmas Novena.)
The Church celebrates the first Christmas Mass at midnight to honor
the very hour that our Savior came into the world to save us. The
darkness at midnight also parallels humanity’s condition of
spiritual darkness as the world awaited the radiant birth of the
promised Messiah.
The
Responsorial Psalm proclaims the joyful tidings of the Angel: “Today
is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.” The Gospel reading for this
Mass tells the first part of the Christmas story from the Gospel of
Luke, when Baby Jesus is born and the Angels herald the Good News to
the shepherds tending their flocks. Therefore this Midnight Mass
is traditionally referred to as “The Angel’s Mass.”
Gospel Reading for the Midnight Mass (Luke 2:1-14)
R.
Alleluia, alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy: today a Savior is born for us, Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy: today a Savior is born for us, Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
.
. . And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because
he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with
Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the
time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her
firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now
there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping
the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to
them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for
all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born
for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you
will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a
manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host
with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the
highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
DAWN: THE SHEPHERD’S MASS
The
second Christmas Mass is celebrated at dawn. Sacred Scripture draws a
parallel between Christ and the sun; as the sun begins to rise over
the darkness of the land, it calls to mind how Jesus, the Light of
the World, dispelled the darkness of sin and death at His birth.
The
Responsorial Psalm highlights this theme: “A light will shine on us
this day: the Lord is born for us.” The Gospel reading for this
Mass continues the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. After the
Angel announces the Good News to the shepherds, the shepherds hasten
to Joseph and Mary to worship the Christ Child. The shepherds then
joyfully proclaim the Good News to others. Therefore Christmas
Mass at Dawn is traditionally referred to as “The Shepherd’s
Mass.”
Gospel Reading for the Dawn Mass (Luke 2:15-20)
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
When
the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one
another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that
has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they
went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in
the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had
been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what
had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and
seen, just as it had been told to them.
CHRISTMAS DAY: THE KING’S MASS
The
final Christmas Mass is celebrated in the fullness of daylight,
signifying that the promised Son of God has now been revealed to the
whole world.
The
Responsorial Psalm for this Mass declares this by saying: “All the
ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.” The Gospel
reading is a call for all people and nations to worship the newborn
King of Kings. Therefore this Mass is traditionally referred to as
“The King’s Mass.”
Gospel Reading for the Day Mass (John 1:1-18)
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be
through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be
through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to
testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He
was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light,
which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the
world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not
know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not
accept him.
But
to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of
God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by
natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s
decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s
only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried
out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who
is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before
me.'” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of
grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and
truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only
Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
