22 December 2019 The Masses of Christmas date even after accepting December 25. Many Catholics look at their parish Christmas schedule During this period the Church at Jerusalem had established and choose the mass that best fits their household’s holiday some particular customs. Egeria, a woman who made a long traditions. But did you know that no two Christmas masses pilgrimage to the Holy Land from 381 to 384, described how are the same? Here at St. Ignatius and St. Luke’s, there are the Christians of Jerusalem commemorated the Christmas four masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and mystery on January 6 with a midnight vigil at Bethlehem, each one has different propers and readings. followed by a torchlight procession to Jerusalem arriving at dawn to the Church of the Resurrection (Anastasis in The celebration of Christ’s nativity opens with the Greek). Christmas Vigil. It should begin before or after the First Vespers of Christmas [approximately 4-7pm]. Its texts still Fifty years later at , Sixtus III (432-440) contain a slightly anticipatory quality: the first reading from decided to honor the proclamation of Mary’s divine [Isaiah 62: 1-5] contains the verse “The nations shall maternity at the (431) by building the see your vindication and all the kings your glory”; the great basilica of St. Alleluia verse says “tomorrow the wickedness of the world Mary Major on the will be destroyed; the Savior of the world will reign over Esquiline hill. us.” The Gospel of the Christmas Vigil is from the Among other beginning of St. Matthew’s account, in which he give the elements Sixtus III genealogy of the Christ, and tells of St. ’s decision to built a chapel that take responsibility for the coming child of Mary. reproduced the cave of Bethlehem. Next come the Three Sixtus III, probably Masses of Christmas, inspired by the starting with the Mass at custom of the Night, formerly called the midnight vigil held in Jerusalem, instituted the practice of a . It is midnight Mass in this grotto-like oratory. sometimes called the Angel’s Mass, recalling In Rome the custom already existed of commemorating the annunciation of Jesus’ important feasts with two distinct offices, one held at night birth to the shepherds by and the other toward dawn. It is easy to see how the simple angels, as recounted in feast initiated by Sixtus III at St. Mary Major’s increased in the Gospel reading for importance and developed. The first development was that this Mass [Luke 2: 1-14]. the oldest Christmas office, which was sung at St. Peter’s, began to be also held at St. Mary Major’s. The Mass at Dawn is referred to as the Shepherds’ Mass because its Gospel highlights the role the shepherds played A further development occurred around 550. The Pope, and in the proclamation of the birth of the Christ [Luke 2: 15- some members of the curia, celebrated a second Mass 20]. sometime before dawn at the Church of St. Anastasia. At the beginning this happened because St. Anastasia’s feast The last mass of Christmas is the Mass During the Day. day also fell on December 25 and had nothing to do with Called the King’s Mass, its readings emphasize the power Christmas. Later however, probably inspired by the practice and glory of God as revealed in His Incarnation. The of the dawn Mass in the Church of the Resurrection in Gospel of this Mass is the beautiful opening of the Gospel Jerusalem, and coupled with the similarity of the name of St. John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word Anastasia, this celebration was transformed into a second was with God, and the Word was God…” Christmas Mass. After this almost-private Mass, the Pope would go directly to St. Peter’s where a large assembly of faithful awaited the THE HISTORY OF THE THREE MASSES solemn dawn office of Christmas. This custom continued at Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the least until the time of Pope Gregory VII (died 1085). Regina Apostolorum University. Initially the privilege of three celebrations at Christmas was Christmas as a liturgical feast falling on December 25 reserved to the Pope. The first evidence we have of a single originated at Rome, in or around the year 330. It is very priest celebrating the three Masses is from the Monastery of likely that the feast was first celebrated in the newly Cluny before the year 1156. All priests may still avail of this completed basilica of St. Peter. privilege and celebrate three Masses on Christmas Day From Rome the celebration of Christmas then slowly providing they respect the proper hours. The first Mass is spread eastward and little by little was incorporated into celebrated at Midnight (the vigil Mass of Dec. 24 does not the liturgical calendar of the principal Churches. Some of count as the first of the three Masses), the second at dawn these Churches had celebrated Christ’s birth on January 6 and the third at some time during the day. and they have continued to give more importance to this Remember in your Prayers Mass Intentions All who are suffering or sick and all caregivers who minister Saturday, 21 December to the sick: Wesley Jackson, Sister Constance Ward, George O Oriens Cochran, Mark Anthony Turner, Rachel Fisher, Joyce Doyle, , Priest and Patricia Ransom, Hoppe, Jacqueline Chancio, Victoria Anticipated Mass for Sunday P.; C. M., C.A., E.D., E.G., W.B., J.M., and J.G. 4:30 pm Holly Henderson Please call or email the office to add a name to the prayer list. Be- Sunday, 22 December fore calling, please be sure you have spoken to the person [or a The Fourth Sunday of Advent [O Rex Gentium] member of his family] about adding the name—we do not want 8 am Deceased clergy of the parish + to inadvertently disregard someone’s desire for privacy. 9:30 am Pro populo Names of those who are sick or suffering will be kept on the list for 11 am Intentions of the Cacas & Bello families [Maria Cacas] one month; to keep a name on the list for longer, you must email the Monday, 23 December parish office. O Emmanuel 9 am no public mass Mass Readings This Week Tuesday, 24 December 22 December The Fourth Sunday of Advent O Virgo Virginum Isaiah 7: 10-14; Psalm 24: 1-7, 10; 9 am Robert Brosen + Romans 1: 1-7; Matthew 11: 18-24 The Eve of the Nativity 23 December John of Kanty, Priest 4:30 pm Rev. Robert Wummer + 3: 1-4, 4: 5-6; Psalm 25: 1, 4-5, 8-10, 14; 10 pm Pro populo Luke 1: 57-66 Wednesday, 25 December 24 December Advent Feria The Nativity of the Lord 2 7: 1-16; Psalm 89: 1-4, 26, 28; Luke 1: 67-79 8 am Msgr. John Scanlon + 10:30 am Chris Hayes and family [Joseph Conklin and 25 December The Nativity of the Lord Dagny Rughin] Isaiah 62: 11-12; Psalm 97: 1, 6, 11-12; Thursday, 26 December Titus 2: 11-14; Luke 2: 1-20 Stephen, the First Martyr 26 December Stephen, the First Martyr 9 am Russell White Acts 6: 8-10, 7: 54-59; Psalm 31: 2-3, 5, 7, 15-16; Friday, 27 December Matthew 10: 17-22 John, Apostle and Evangelist 27 December John, Apostle and Evangelist 9 am Emily Guinivan 1 John 1: 1-4; Psalm 97: 1-2, 5-6, 11-12; John 20: 2-8 Saturday, 28 December 28 December Holy Innocents, Martyrs Anticipated Mass for Sunday 1 John 1: 1-5; Psalm 124: 2-5, 7-8; 4:30 pm Jackie Chancio Matthew 2: 13-18 Sunday, 29 December 29 December The Feast of the Holy Family The Feast of the Holy Family Sirach 3; 2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128: 1-5; 8 am Pro populo 9:30 am Ernest A. LaValley + [Lorraine LaValley] Colossians 3: 12-21; Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23 11 am Jose Manlapaz [Susanna Martinez]

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