At long last we arrive at Christmas. Though Advent is relatively short – sometimes quite short, depending on where December 25 lands – there is something about the anticipation of the Nativity and makes it feel especially long. From start to finish, Advent urges us to look beyond its four weeks and consider the humble first coming of Jesus in Bethlehem and His glorious second coming at the end of time.

Thankfully, one of the graces of the celebrations of Christmas is that it is relatively easy! Apart from a few liturgical extras (the blessing of the Christmas tree(s), the blessing of the manger, and the Christmas proclamation), all four Masses are of the same structure as any Sunday Mass….but with Christmas hymns! That said, there are special characteristics that I especially adore. For example, the Nativity of the Lord is the only celebration in the entire liturgical calendar that has four separate sets of propers (antiphons, readings & prayers) – each chosen according to the time of the celebration of the Mass (vigil, night, dawn, and day). Of course each Christmas Mass focuses on the birth of the Lord, but from a different angle and with different emphasis in prayer.

One standout detail – shared only with the solemnity of the Annunciation (March 25) – takes place during the creed. At the words “became man” we all normally bow our heads (if you didn’t know that before, now you do!). But on this day celebrating the very action of Christ’s incarnation – the word becoming flesh – we briefly pause and genuflect at these words (GIRM, 137). For a moment, we join the angels, shepherds, and magi in bending the knee before the infant Jesus.

If I don’t get a chance to personally say so at one of our Christmas Masses, may you have a wonderful Christmas. Know of my prayers for you, that we all may more intimately invite the Lord into our hearts and entrust ourselves into His gentle & loving presence.

P.S. Thank you for your prayers for Father Jim Lee. As you may have heard, he was called to his eternal reward this Sunday, December 22. Please continue to pray not only for him, but for all those who love him – it will be a particularly hard Christmas and New Years for Saint Michael parish, where he served as pastor for 27 years.

I’d also ask your prayers for the many, many families who have said goodbye to a loved one over the last several weeks. Perhaps due to the coming together of family – or having that last holiday together before letting go – it is quite common to have a great many funerals after Thanksgiving through New Years. It is my privilege & honor to offer the last rites at the hour of death and to celebrate the funeral rites with their families…. but it is a particularly heavy weight of sadness for these families as they make their goodbyes while the world is otherwise happily celebrating. As we gather with our own loved ones to celebrate new life in Christ, please take a moment to pray for all of those who have been called by Him to eternal life and those who feel so keenly their absence.