Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 21, 2014

We are now in the later days of the season of Advent. During the early time, the readings and prayers at Mass remind us that we are awaiting Christ’s second coming at the end of time. Now our attention turns to the upcoming celebration of the birth of Christ. While this is still a time of preparation and of expectation, we are at that point where I can feel comfortable in wishing everyone the blessings of Christmas without feeling like I am rushing things. So first and foremost, let me take this opportunity, on behalf of Fr. Russell and Fr. O’Brien, to wish you a very blessed and merry Christmas. May the presence of Christ, the Word of God incarnate, fill your homes and your hearts with peace and joy.

In the Church’s liturgical books, the official name of this great celebration is “The Nativity of the Lord.” Our English term comes from “Christ’s Mass,” the day when the liturgy focuses on the coming of Christ. In reality, every Mass is primarily a celebration of Christ Jesus. But the custom in England was to speak of certain days by the saint they celebrated by saying that it was that saint’s Mass, such as “Michaelmas” for the feast of St. Michael and the other archangels. Although Easter is the most important feast of the year, the Nativity of the Lord became the day of “Christ’s Mass.” Thus it should be that the first and most important way we celebrate the Christ child is by coming to receive Christ Himself in the Eucharist.

Our first celebration of the Vigil of Christmas is at 4:00 on Wednesday, Christmas Eve. I have heard reports that this is the biggest crowd of the year, and based on my experiences in other parishes I would not expect otherwise. It is a time when families, particularly those with young children, fill the church to overflowing. As I have always loved working with children, this Mass is always one of the highlights of my year. I am eager for this liturgy as a beginning to the Christmas celebration. There will also be a Vigil Mass at 6:00 that evening, which give us a full church but with a little less chaos.

In the days before the Vigil Mass or the anticipated Mass, those who wanted to have Mass as early as possible would have to wait until midnight. When I was growing up, the Midnight Mass was a big tradition in every parish. It is now referred to a “Mass During the Night” to remind us of the appearance of the angels to the shepherds at night and other nocturnal aspects of the feast. Our Mass During the Night will be at 10:00. Masses on Christmas Day are the regular Sunday times of 8:00 and 11:00.

And for those who still want to take these last days of Advent to prepare, we will have Confessions available on both Monday and Tuesday from 3:00 to 4:00 and from 7:00 to 8:00.

So once again, in anticipation of Thursday’s great feast, I offer you my wishes for a very blessed and merry Christmas.
                                                                                Father H