Tuesday, 25 December, 2007
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD or CHRISTMAS DAY (I)
"The Feast of the Birth of our Lord. Formerly the Masses for this day were celebrated at intervals; that is, at midnight, at dawn, and in the day time – a custom still observed in Cathedrals, monastic communities, and many parish churches. They are said always in the order in which they are arranged in the Missal, namely: 1. the Midnight Mass, 2. the Mass of the Dawn, 3. the Mass of the Day; even though the times at which they are said do not correspond to their titles.”

FIRST MASS: AT MIDNIGHT
“The Midnight Mass especially recalls the temporal birth of Jesus.”

Collect: O God, who hast made this most holy night shine forth with the splendour of the true Light: grant, we beseech Thee, that we, who have known the mysteries of His light on earth, may enjoy also His happiness in heaven: Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: Bl. Paul the Apostle to Titus, 2:11-15.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke, 2:1-14.

SECOND MASS: AT DAWN
“The Mass at Dawn especially recalls the spiritual birth of Jesus in our souls.”

Collect: Grant us, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we on whom the new light of Thine Incarnate Word is poured, may show forth in our works that brightness, which now doth illuminate our minds by faith. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: Bl. Paul the Apostle to Titus, 3:4,7.
Gospel: Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Luke, 2:15-20.

THIRD MASS: DURING THE DAYTIME
“This Third Mass during the Daytime recalls especially the eternal generation of Jesus.”

Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the new birth of Thine only-begotten Don in the flesh may set us free, who are held by the bondage under the yoke of sin. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Epistle: Bl. Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews, 1:1-12.
Gospel: The holy Gospel according to St. John, 1:1-18.

Remarks are abstracted from The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, from Editio Typica of the Roman Missal and Breviary, 1962
(Baronius Press Limited, London, 2004, in conjunction with the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, www.baroniuspress.com)