Today is the 7th day in the octave of Christmas. The liturgical color is white.

Note: Tomorrow is a holyday of obligation (Holy Mary, Mother of God). Be sure to go to Mass either this evening or tomorrow.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 31, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Sylvester I, pope and confessor, who died in A.D. 335. It is an optional memorial, a Class II day and a commemoration.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Octave of Christmas. It is a class II day.

If you’d like to learn more about the Octave of Christmas, you can click here.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Sylvester I, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

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Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

31 December

114. Popular piety has given rise to many pious exercises connected with 31 December. In many parts of the Western world the end of the civil year is celebrated on this day. This anniversary affords an opportunity for the faithful to reflect on “the mystery of time”, which passes quickly and inexorably. Such should give rise to a dual feeling: of penance and sorrow for the sins committed during the year and for the lost occasions of grace; and of thanks to God for the graces and blessings He has given during the past year.

These sentiments have given rise to two pious exercises: prolonged exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, which afford an opportunity for the faithful and many religious communities for silent prayer; and the singing of the Te Deum as an act of community praise and thanksgiving to God for the graces received from Him as the year draws to a close.

In some places, especially in monasteries and in associations of the faithful with a particular devotion to the Holy Eucharist, 31 December is marked by a vigil of prayer which concludes with the celebration of the Holy Mass. Such vigils are to be encouraged and should be celebrated in harmony with the liturgical content of the Christmas Octave, and not merely as a reaction to the thoughtless dissipation with which society celebrates the passage from one year to another, but as a vigil offering of the new year to the Lord.

Today is the 6th day in the octave of Christmas. The liturgical color is white.

In the Ordinary Form, we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

In the Extraordinary Form, it is the Sunday within the octave of the Nativity.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 30, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Octave of Christmas. It is a Class II day.

If you’d like to learn more about the Octave of Christmas, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

The Feast of the Holy Family

112. The feast of the holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (Sunday in the Christmas octave) is a festive occasion particularly suitable for the celebration of rites or moments of prayer proper to the Christian family. The recollection of Joseph, Mary and Jesus’ going up to Jerusalem, together with other observant Jewish families, for the celebration of the Passover (cf. Lk 2, 41-42), should normally encourage a positive acceptance of the pastoral suggestion that all members of the family attend Mass on this day. This feast day also affords an opportunity for the renewal of our entrustment to the patronage of the Holy Family of Nazareth; the blessing of children as provided in the ritual; and where opportune, for the renewal of marriage vows taken by the spouses on their wedding day, and also for the exchange of promises between those engaged to be married in which they formalize their desire to found a new Christian family.

Outside of the feast, the faithful have frequent recourse to the Holy Family of Nazareth in many of life’s circumstances: joining the Association of the Holy Family so as to model their own families on the Holy Family of Nazareth; frequent prayers to entrust themselves to the patronage of the Holy Family and to obtain assistance at the hour of death.

Today is the 5th day in the octave of Christmas. The liturgical color is white.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 29, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Thomas Becket, bishop of Canterbury, and martyr, who died in A.D. 1170. In the Ordinary Form, it is an optional memorial, and in the Extraordinary Form, it is a commemoration.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Octave of Christmas. It is a class II day.

If you’d like to learn more about the Octave of Christmas, you can click here.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Becket, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

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Today is the 4th day in the octave of Christmas. The liturgical color is red.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 28, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Holy Innocents, martyrs, who died in the 1st century. In the Ordinary Form, it is a feast, and in the Extraordinary Form, it is a Class II day.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Commemoration of Christmas.

If you’d like to learn more about the Holy Innocents, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

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Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

The Feast of the Holy Innocents

113. Since the sixth century, on 28 December, the Church has celebrated the memory of those children killed because of Herod’s rage against Christ (cf. Mt 2, 16-17). Liturgical tradition refers to them as the “Holy Innocents” and regards them as martyrs. Throughout the centuries Christian art, poetry and popular piety have enfolded the memory of the “tender flock of lambs” with sentiments of tenderness and sympathy. These sentiments are also accompanied by a note of indignation against the violence with which they were taken from their mothers’ arms and killed.

In our own times, children suffer innumerable forms of violence which threaten their lives, dignity and right to education. On this day, it is appropriate to recall the vast host of children not yet born who have been killed under the cover of laws permitting abortion, which is an abominable crime. Mindful of these specific problems, popular piety in many places has inspired acts of worship as well as displays of charity which provide assistance to pregnant mothers, encourage adoption and the promotion of the education of children.

Today is the 3rd day in the octave of Christmas. The liturgical color is white.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 27, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. John, apostle and evangelist, who died in A.D. 101. In the Ordinary Form, it is a feast, and in the Extraordinary Form, it is a Class II day.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Commemoration of Christmas.

If you’d like to learn more about St. John the Evangelist, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

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Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

108. Much of the richness and complexity of the mystery of the Lord’s manifestation is reflected in displays of popular piety, which is especially sensitive to the childhood of Christ which reveals his love for us. Popular piety intuitively grasps:

• the importance of the “spirituality of gift”, which is proper to Christmas: “a child is born for us, a son is given to us” (cf. Is 9, 5), a gift expressing the infinite love of God, who “so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3, 16);
• the message of solidarity conveyed by the event of Christmas: solidarity with sinful man, for whom, in Christ, God became man “for us men and for our salvation”; solidarity with the poor, because the Son of God “who” was rich but became poor for your sake, to make you rich out of your poverty” (2 Cor 8, 9);
• the sacredness of human life and the wonderful event that is every birth, since the Word of life came amongst men and was made visible through his birth of the Virgin Mary (cf. 1 John 1, 2);
• the messianic joy and peace to which man has aspired in every age: the Angels announce the birth of the Savior of the world to the shepherds, the “Prince of Peace (Is 9.5) and proclaim “peace on earth to men of good will” (Lk 2, 14);
• the spirit of simplicity and poverty, humility and trust in God, suggested by the events surrounding the birth of Christ.

Today is the 2nd day in the octave of Christmas. The liturgical color is red.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 26, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Stephen, the first martyr, who died in A.D. 36. In the Ordinary Form, it is a feast, and in the Extraordinary Form, it is a Class II day.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Commemoration of Christmas.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Stephen, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

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Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

107. In addition to these celebrations recalling the primary meaning of Christmas, there are also other celebrations closely connected with the mystery of the Lord’s manifestation: the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents (28 December) whose blood was shed because of hatred for Jesus and because of Herod’s rejection of his lordship; the memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus, 13 January; the feast of the Holy Family (Sunday in the octave of Christmas) celebrating the holy family in which Jesus “grew in wisdom and grace before God and men” (Lk 2, 52); the solemnity of the 1E January which recalls the divine, virginal and salvific motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and, although outside of Christmastide, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2 February), celebrating the encounter between the Messiah and his people, represented by Simeon and Anna, and the prophecy of Simeon.

Today is Christmas. The liturgical color is white.

This is a holyday of obligation (Christmas). Be sure to go to Mass if you didn’t go yesterday evening.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 25, in both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). It is a solemnity.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Anastasia, martyr. It is an It is a commemoration at the second Mass.

In both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. qqqq It is a I with octave.

If you’d like to learn more about the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), you can click here.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Anastasia, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

Christmastide

106. During Christmastide, the Church celebrates the mystery of the Lord’s manifestation: his humble birth in Bethlehem which was made known to the shepherds, the first of Israel to welcome the Savior; the Epiphany to the three wise men who had “come from the East” (Mt 2,1), the first of the Gentiles who recognized and adored Christ the Messiah in the child of Bethlehem; the theophany at the river Jordan in which the Father declares that Jesus is His “well-beloved Son” (Mt 3, 17) at the outset of his messianic mission; the miracle of Cana in which Jesus “manifested his glory and his disciples believed in him” (John 2,11).

Today is Monday of the 4th week of Advent. The liturgical color is violet.

Note: Tomorrow is a holyday of obligation (Christmas). Be sure to go to Mass either this evening or tomorrow.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 24, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate the Vigil of the Nativity. It is a Class I day.

If you’d like to learn more about the Vigil of the Nativity, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

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Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

110. Where possible, the Church desires that the faithful should prepare for the celebration of Midnight Mass on the 24 December with the Office of Readings. Where such is not possible, it may be opportune to arrange a vigil of hymns, readings, and elements drawn from popular piety.

111. At Midnight Mass, an event of major liturgical significance and of strong resonance in popular piety, the following could be given prominence:

• at the beginning of Mass, the proclamation of the Savior’s birth according the formula contained in the Roman Martyrology could be made in song;
• the prayer of the faithful should really be universal, and where appropriate, use several languages; and the poor should always be remembered in the presentation of the gifts;
• at the end of Mass, the faithful could be invited to kiss the image of the Child Jesus, which is then placed in a crib erected in the church or somewhere nearby.

Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent. The liturgical color is violet.

Saints & Celebrations:

On December 23, in the Ordinary Form, we celebrate St. John of Kanty, priest, who died in A.D. 1473. It is an optional memorial.

There is no special fixed liturgical day in the Extraordinary Form.

If you’d like to learn more about St. John of Kanty, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

Devotional Information:

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

Christmas Eve

109. In the space of time between the first Vespers of Christmas and Midnight Mass, both the tradition of Christmas carols, which are potent means of conveying the Christmas message of peace and joy, and popular piety propose certain forms of payers, differing from country to country, which should be cherished and, where necessary, made consonant with the celebration of the Liturgy: These would include:

• “live cribs” and the inauguration of the crib in the homes of the faithful which is an opportunity for family prayer: this prayer should include a reading of St. Luke’s account of the birth of Christ, the typical Christmas carols, as well as prayers of petition and praise, especially those of children who are the protagonists in such family moments;
• the inauguration of the Christmas tree. This event also offers an opportunity for family prayer. Apart from its historical origins, the Christmas tress has become a potent symbol to-day and is very diffuse amongst Christians; it evokes both the tree planted in the centre of Eden (Gen 2, 9), and the tree of the Cross, which lends it a Christological significance: Christ is the true tree of life, born of human stock, of the Virgin Mary, the tree which is always green and productive. In the Nordic countries, the tree is decorated with apples and hosts. “Gifts” can be added; but among the gifts placed under the tree, something should be included for the poor since they belong to every Christian family;
• the Christmas supper. The Christian family, which traditionally blesses the table and gives thanks to the Lord for the gift of food, performs this ceremony with greater intensity at the Christmas supper which gives potent concrete expression to the joy of family ties.