The Christmas Season
The Christmas Season begins with the celebration of the birth of Our Lord and concludes on the feast of his Baptism. The birth of Christ at Christmas falls exactly nine months after the feast of his Annunciation on March 25th. The Christmas season, therefore, focuses on the coming of Jesus Christ, God and man, in our flesh and born of the Virgin Mary.
Two of the gospels for the Masses of Christmas Day come from the Gospel of Luke. The gospel for the Mass during the Night, which is commonly called Midnight Mass, relates the story of the birth of Christ and the song of the angels: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those who enjoy his favor. The gospel for the Mass at Dawn speaks of how the shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the Christ child lying in the manger. Finally, the gospel of the Mass during the Day is the great prologue to the Gospel of John which recounts how the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
During the Christmas season, we also celebrate feasts that are closely associated with both the birth of the Lord as well as his manifestation to both Jews and non-Jews alike. On January 1st, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. As it is the Octave Day of Christmas, we also commemorate the giving of the holy Name of Jesus to the Word made flesh. We then celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Finally, at the end of the Christmas season, we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord and hear in the gospel that Christ is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased.
Source: Rev. Kurt Belsole, OSB, Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, PA
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