After the annual celebration of the Paschal Mystery, the Church has no more ancient custom than celebrating the memorial of the Nativity of the Lord and of his first manifestations, and this takes place in Christmas Time. Christmas Time runs from First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of the Nativity of the Lord up to and including the Sunday after Epiphany or after January 6 (Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year 32–33).
Christmas is not a day but a season that runs from Christmas Eve through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Begin your preparations by reading the season’s Scriptures in the Lectionary and its prayers in the Roman Missal. The solemnities and feasts of this season celebrate the various ways in which the world first came to experience God in the person of Jesus Christ.
To aid in your preparations for the season, we are sharing these liturgical directives and suggestions to consider during the Christmas season.
Liturgical Texts
- The Roman Missal and Lectionary provide prayers and readings for four distinct Christmas Masses: Vigil, Night/Midnight, Dawn, and Day. A note at #13 in the Lectionary offers some flexibility in selecting from among the various readings for the Christmas Masses “according to the pastoral needs of each congregation.” Decide which readings will be proclaimed at each Mass, and make sure the priest, deacon, music minister, and lectors know so that they can prepare accordingly.
- The Book of Blessings (ch. 48) has a blessing of the manger or Nativity scene that may be celebrated during Mass.
- Since Christmas is a season, consider how to musically connect the various Sundays, Solemnities, and Feasts. Use the same Gloria or Mass setting during the entire season. A festive Gospel Acclamation will also tie the season together. Similarly, you might consider using one Communion hymn during the entire season. When preparing the liturgies of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, give attention to choral selections that can be repurposed during the rest of the season.
- The Roman Missal specifies Preface I of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Solemn Blessing for the Blessed Virgin Mary (#15) for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God on January 1.
- For the solemnity of the Epiphany, the Roman Missal provides one set of prayers for the Vigil Mass on the evening of Saturday, January 3, and another for Mass during the Day on Sunday, January 4.
- Other Epiphany Mass texts include the Preface of the Epiphany of the Lord, a special form of the Communicantes (“In communion with those…”) for Eucharistic Prayer I (The Roman Canon), and Solemn Blessing #4.
- On the solemnity of the Epiphany, the Roman Missal offers the option of singing “The Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts” (Appendix I), an ancient practice which originated at a time when calendars were not commonly available. The chant is sung after the Gospel by the deacon or a cantor, either of whom will need to rehearse in advance with the music minister. The dates to be inserted for 2026 are “eighteenth day of February” (Ash Wednesday), “fifth day of April” (Easter Day), “fourteenth day of May” or “seventeeth day of May” (Ascension, depending on whether it is observed on Thursday or Sunday), “twenty-fourth day of May” (Pentecost), “seventh day of June” (Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ), and “twenty-ninth day of November” (First Sunday of Advent).
Other Liturgical Celebrations in Christmas Time
Consider beginning the Christmas Night Mass with a vigil service of readings and carols. It could include a candlelight procession and several readings, each followed by a psalm or carol and a prayer or period of silence. Genesis 15:1–6, Isaiah 7:10–14, Isaiah 11:1–10, Micah 5:1–4, and Matthew 1:1–25 are suggested readings. Following Matthew 1:1–25 (the genealogy of Jesus), the cantor could sing “The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (found with musical notation at the end of Appendix I in the Roman Missal), followed by the Gloria and the Collect of the Mass. You can learn about the history of Lessons & Carols and get practical advice for planning here.
Environment and Art
- Built of Living Stones recommends that “plans for seasonal decorations should include other areas besides the sanctuary…The altar should remain clear and freestanding, not walled in by massive floral displays or the Christmas crib” (124).
- The Book of Blessings notes that the preferred location for the manger is outside the sanctuary in a place “suitable for prayer and … easily accessible by the faithful” (1544).
- The Ceremonial of Bishops (240) suggests a “suitable and increased display of lights” for Epiphany Masses. Light candles throughout the worship space, being careful to avoid contact with seasonal greenery that may be dry by this time.
- To Crown the Year: Decorating the Church through the Seasons (234–264) offers ideas for decorating doorways, the entire worship space, and exterior areas for the Christmas season.
Prayer at Home
Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, Revised Edition (85–91) has prayers for the new year and for the blessing of homes on Epiphany (88–91).
Classroom Prayer
Blessings and Prayers through the Year (70–88) has a variety of prayers for the Christmas season including mealtime, blessing a stable, and an Epiphany journey with the Magi (con parranda).
Find more resources for Advent and Christmas here.
Originally developed for the Liturgy Forecast. Copyright © 2023 OCP.