DECEMBER 25, SOLEMNITY OF
CHRISTMAS (A, B, C)
Lectionary #14, 15, and 16
Christmas Midnight Mass (Lectionary #14)
The midnight readings are among the most familiar texts of Jewish and Christian revelation—at least to a Christian audience. They focus our attention on the meaning of the birth of Jesus.
Isaiah 9:1-6. The prophet saw the coming of a new king as a fulfillment of the hope for a peaceful and just government. This hope was later applied to the messiah, and Christians found in Jesus the fulfillment of that hope for the whole world.
Psalm for Mass at Midnight: Ps (95) 96
This psalm describes a kind of liturgy in which the whole world sings the praise of God, creator and redeemer. The refrain applies this praise to Christ.
Hoy Nos Ha Nacido un Salvador (Cortés) FYC 237/Una Voz 210
Hoy Nos Ha Nacido un Salvador (Rubi) FYC 236
Hoy Nos Ha Nacido un Salvador (Taulé) FYC 238
Nos Ha Nacido un Salvador (Cortes) GP 237
Today a Savior Has Been Born (Dean/Young) CBW 30
Today a Savior Is Born (Farrell) MI‑BB/JS 74
Today Is Born Our Savior (Alstott) BB
Today Is Born Our Savior (Ferris) PRM B7/PMB 567/WS
Today Is Born Our Savior (Guimont) GC 961/LPMG 14
Today Is Born Our Savior (Haugen) GC 91/PCY2 32
Today Is Born Our Savior (Hughes) RS 130/GC 90/GC2 52/CCS 2026/SS
Today Is Born Our Savior (Hughes/Gelineau) RS 131
Today Is Born Our Savior (Inwood) BB/SP1 62
Today Is Born Our Savior/Hoy Nos Ha Nacido un Salvador (Krisman) SS
Today Is Born Our Savior (Proulx) CCS 2538/SS
Today Is Born Our Savior (Proulx/Gelineau) WOR 779/LPGG 779/SS
Today Is Born Our Savior (Schiavone) LP 21/JS 891
Today Is Born Our Savior (Stewart) PCY5 9
Today Is Born Our Savior (Sullivan) WC 405/WS
Today Our Savior Is Born (Cortez) GP 238/SP3 60/MI‑BB/JS 75
Titus 2:11-14. This reading connects us to the situation in ancient Rome, when Christian morality was in competition with the prevailing attitudes toward moral living. The Church used this text to remind Christians to live morally and to remember that they could do this because they were united to "the great God and our Savior Christ Jesus."
Luke 2:1-14. Probably the most familiar part of the Gospel. Luke affirms the tradition that Jesus was born at Bethlehem, but his important point is to explain what this birth means. The birth is retold simply: "She gave birth to her first-born son . . ." The focus is on the angel's message and the shepherds' response.
[For other songs of the liturgy, see below.]
Christmas at Dawn (Lectionary #15)
These texts challenge us to respond to the meaning of Jesus' birth by prayer, praise, and action.
Isaiah 62:11-12. Not only is God bonded to Israel, the prophet says (see the texts for the Vigil Mass), but that union transforms the people, who will be called holy and redeemed.
Psalm for Mass at Dawn: Ps (96) 97
The liturgy in which the whole world sings God's praises (see psalm for Mass at Midnight) is given a slightly different twist through the refrain used at dawn. While it heralds the physical coming of the new day, it also looks forward to the "day of the Lord" as a day of hope, because "Christ is born for us."
A Light Will Shine (Alstott) BB
A Light Will Shine (Carroll/Gelineau) WOR 780/RS 134/LPGG 780
A Light Will Shine (Guimont) GC 964/LPMG 15
A Light Will Shine (Kreutz) PRM B8/PMB 568/WS
A Light Will Shine (Schiavone) LP 22/JS 892
Hoy Brillará una Luz/A Light Will Shine (Krisman) SS
This Day New Light Will Shine (Miro/Atkinson) CBW 31
Titus 3:4-7. God saved us because of mercy, Paul says. That merciful salvation is not simply a past historical fact; we share in it through baptism and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Luke 2:15-20. The story of the shepherds' response (see Mass at Midnight) is continued in action, as they come to Bethlehem, see, and make "known the message," which leads them into prayer and praise. Mary also sees and "reflects on" all these things in a kind of contemplation.
[For other songs of the liturgy, see below.]
Christmas during the Day (Lectionary #16)
The meaning of the birth of Jesus is a present reality. God's Word is at work in the world now.
Isaiah 52:7-10. The prophet promises the guards on the ruined city walls that they will see God restoring Jerusalem. Despite the poverty of the exiles who have returned from Babylon, their faith shows them God at work among the ruins.
Psalm for Mass during the Day: Ps (97) 98
This enthronement psalm recalls God's saving deeds to Israel and calls on all the nations to sing God's praise.
All the Ends of the Earth PSL 14/SS 217
All the Ends of the Earth/Los Confines de la Tierra (Alonso) SS
All the Ends of the Earth (Alstott) BB
All the Ends of the Earth (Beall) SO 11/WC 406/WS
All the Ends of the Earth (Guimont) GC 136/GC2 966/LPMG 16
All the Ends of the Earth (Haas/Haugen) PCY1 12/GC 95/GC2 55/MI‑BB/CBW 29B,548/RS 135/SS
All the Ends of the Earth (Harbor) LMGM 504
All the Ends of the Earth (Hirten/Proulx) CCS 3631
All the Ends of the Earth (Hurd) JS 77/MI‑BB/GP 241/SP1 66
All the Ends of the Earth (Jordan) LMGM 505
All the Ends of the Earth (Kreutz) PSC 10/JS 79
All the Ends of the Earth (Marchionda) PMB 161, 569/PRM B9/WC 407/WS
All the Ends of the Earth (Murray) CBW 125
All the Ends of the Earth (Peloquin) SI 12
All the Ends of the Earth (Proulx/Gelineau) WOR 781/RS 137/LPGG 781
All the Ends of the Earth (Schiavone) LP 23/JS 893
All the Ends of the Earth (Trapp) SS
All the Ends of the Earth (Willcock) PFS 6
Los Confines de la Tierra (García) FYC 241
Los Confines de la Tierra/All the Ends of the Earth (Cortez) JS 76
Los Confines de lat Tierra/All the Ends of the Earth (Hurd) FYC 240/Una Voz 216
The Ends of the Earth (Leaf) CBW 32
Hebrews 1:1-6. Not only does Jesus continue or complete the history of Israel (see other sets of texts for this feast, above); he makes sense of it all, uniting the various fragments into a full picture.
John 1:1-18. The Prologue of the Fourth Gospel sees Jesus as the "Word," the true meaning of all creation and all history, whose presence among us gives us access to the meaning of God's plan for the universe.
Songs for the Liturgy
Today's liturgy should be full of the sound of familiar carols. For the Masses at Midnight and at Dawn, choose carols that evoke the images of the Christmas story: Bethlehem, manger, angels, shepherds. For the Mass during the Day, look for hymns and songs that proclaim that Christ is born this day, as the Word made flesh continues to dwell among us.
A Child Is Born (All Masses) GP 330
A Child Is Born in Bethlehem (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 384/WC 480/RS 500/JS 340/BB/SS
*A Light Will Shine (E, Dawn) PSL 13/SS
*A Radiant Light Has Come (E, Dawn) IH 7
A Stable Lamp Is Lighted (Midnight) WOR 385/GC 356
*All the Ends of the Earth (C, Day) BFW 26
Angels from the Realms of Glory (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 377/JS 367/LMGM 18/BB/WC 464/GC 358/GC2 369/RS 508/GP 335/PMB 202/SS
Angels We Have Heard on High (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 376/JS 341/CBW 320/LMGM 17/GP 313/BB/WC 467/GC 347/GC2 361/RS 504/WS/PMB 204/SS
Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn (Midnight) GC 346/GC2 351/CBW 303/RS 494/WC 445/WS/SS
Away in a Manger (Midnight) WOR 378/JS 359/GP 26/BB 78/WC 474, 487/GC 353/GC2 365/RS 515/GP 321/WS/PMB 208/SS
Bread of Life (Farrell) -- Advent/Christmas setting (All Masses) BB/JS 819
Carol at the Manger (Midnight) GC 369/GC2 354/RS 516
*Child of Mercy (Midnight) GC 357/GC2 368/RS 506/SS
Child of the Poor (Midnight) GP 336/BB/JS 366
Christ Was Born on Christmas Day (All Masses) RS 513/SS
Cry Out with Joy and Gladness (Vigil, Midnight) WC 460/WS/PMB 197
*For Us a Child of Hope Is Born (E Day) IH 8
From Heaven Above (Midnight) WOR 388
Gloria (All Masses) RS 511
Gloria, Gloria (All Masses) WOR 401/LMGM 14/CBW 340/RS 507
Go, Tell It on the Mountain (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 397/JS 352/LMGM 22/BB/WC 486/GC 359/GC2 363/RS 514/GP 325/WS/PMB 218/SS
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 383/JS 337/BB/WC 468/GC 366/GC2 366/RS 503/GP 316/WS 373/PMB 201/SS
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (All Masses) WOR 391/WC 469/CBW 322/RS 518/BB/JS 346/GP 319/WS/PMB 198/SS/GC 367
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (All Masses) WOR 387/JS 345/CBW 323/LMGM 13/GP 317/BB/WC 470/GC 348/GC2 356/RS 502/WS/PMB 199/SS
He Came Down (Day) GC 370/GC2 364/RS 519
How Brightly Beams the Morning Star (Dawn) WOR 389, 390/WC 496
*I Proclaim the Lord’s Decree (E Midnight) IH 6
In Deepest Night (All Masses) JS 351/CBW 324
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 393/WC 488/GC 354/GC2 377/RS 509/WS/BB/JS 344/PMB 217
It Came upon the Midnight Clear (Midnight) WOR 400/JS 339/LMGM 23/GP 314/BB/WC 475/GC 367/GC2 379/RS 498/WS/PMB 209/SS
Joy to the World (Day) WOR 399/JS 336/CBW 328/LMGM 19/GP 318/BB/WC 473/GC 343/GC2 353/RS 524/WS/PMB 207/SS
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (Vigil, Midnight, Dawn) WOR 374/JS 338/LMGM 24/GP 320/BB/WC 476/GC 368/GC2 373/WS/PMB 210/SS
Lord, Today (Midnight, Dawn) GP 338/GC 375/GC2 385/RS 536
O Come, All Ye Faithful/Adeste Fideles (All Masses) WOR 392/JS 333/CBW 329/GP 311/BB/WC 479/GC 341/GC2 357/RS 499/WS/PMB 213/SS
O Come, Little Children (Midnight, Dawn) GP 322/WC 489/JS 357/BB/WS 361/PMB 215/SS
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Vigil, Midnight) WOR 386/JS 348/WC 481/LMGM 25/BB/WC 751/GC 363/GC2 359/RS 520/GP 315/WS/PMB 212/SS
Of the Father's Love Begotten (Day) WOR 398/JS 349/CBW 330/BB/WC 484/GC 351/GC2 374/RS 510/PMB 211/SS
Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow (Midnight) GC 360/GC2 375/JS 353/LMGM 12/BB/WC 483/RS 505/GP 324/PMB 219
See Amid the Winter's Snow (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 375/JS 356/BB/GP 332
Silent Night, Holy Night (Midnight) WOR 379/JS 343/GC 352/GC2 371/CBW 332/LMGM 26/GP 312/BB/WC 491/RS 522/WS/PMB 214/SS
The Aye Carol (Midnight) GC 371/GC2 381/RS 525
The First Nowell (Midnight) WOR 408/JS 363/CBW 344/LMGM 28/GP 334/BB/WC 463/GC 377/GC2 388/RS 536/WS/PMB 222/SS
*The Lord Said to Me (E,Midnight) BFW 19/SS
The People Who in Darkness Walked (Midnight) CBW 335
The Snow Lay on the Ground (Midnight) JS 197/BB/WC 482/PMB 221/SS
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy (Midnight, Dawn, Day) GC 345/GC2 378/RS 501/HG 21
To People of Good Will (Midnight, Dawn) CBW 336
*Today It Will Be Known to You (E Vigil) IH 5
'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 380/GC 361/CBW 337
Wake from Your Sleep (Dawn) GP 328/JS 342/CBW 339/BB
What Child Is This (Midnight, Dawn) WOR 411/JS 365/CBW 338/LMGM 29/GP 337/BB/WC 499/GC 380/GC2 387/RS 530/WS/PMB 216/SS
While Shepherds Watched (Midnight) WOR 382/JS 347/BB 96/WC 478/SS
Word of God, When All Was Silent (Day) HG 82