Christmas
brings before us the happy day on which, in the fulness of time,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer, was born of the ever-blessed
and immaculate Virgin Mary, in the stable at Bethlehem.
Why
does every priest say three Masses on this day?
1.
To give thanks to the ever-blessed Trinity, Who co-operated in the
incarnation of Jesus Christ.
2.
To honor the threefold birth of Jesus Christ : His eternal birth in
the bosom of His heavenly Father; His temporal birth of His virgin
Mother; and His spiritual birth in our hearts, which He occupies by
His grace.
Why
is the first Mass celebrated at midnight?
The
first Mass is said at midnight to remind us that before Jesus Christ
was born the world was without the true light, and lay in darkness
and the shadow of death. Again, it was in the night that He was born
; and both His temporal and eternal births are mysterious truths,
incomprehensible to our understanding.
Why
is the second Mass celebrated at daybreak?
The
second Mass is celebrated at daybreak because the birth of Christ
brought light to the gentiles, whose salvation was then nigh, and
because, according to tradition, it was about that hour that the
shepherds came to see and adore the new-born Saviour.
Why
is the third Mass celebrated at daylight?
The
third Mass is said at daylight because Christ dispersed the darkness
of ignorance, and appeared as the Light of the world (John 1: 9 ;
Isaiah 9: 8).
OF
THE FIRST MASS
The
Introit of the first Mass reminds us of the eternal birth of Jesus
Christ: “The Lord hath said to Me, Thou art My Son, this day have I
begotten Thee” (Psalms 2: 7); “Why have the gentiles raged, and
the people devised vain things?” (Psalms 2: 1) Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Prayer
O
God, Who hast made this holy night shine forth with the brightness of
the true Light, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may enjoy His
happiness in heaven, the mystery of Whose light we have known upon
earth. Who liveth and reigneth, forever, Amen.
EPISTLE
Titus 2:11-15.
Dearly
Beloved : The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men,
instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we
should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world, looking for
the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and Our
Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem
us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to Himself a people
acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak, and exhort,
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How
did the grace of God appear to all men?
Through
the incarnation of His Son, Whom, in His infinite love, He made like
unto us, to be our brother and teacher, that we might become children
and heirs of God, and co-heirs with Jesus Christ.
What
does Christ teach us by His incarnation?
That
we should abandon impiety, infidelity, injustice, and worldly
desires, and love God, and our neighbor, though he be our enemy, for
God's sake. The incarnation also shows the dignity and greatness of
man, for as God gave His only Son for our redemption, we thereby
perceive the worth of man in the sight of God.
What
does the Apostle mean by worldly desires?
He
means by them carnal and sensual desires and lusts, such as impurity,
drunkenness, avarice, and such like. Christ teaches us to renounce
these by the poverty, patience, fasting, and innumerable privations
of His life.
How
do we live soberly, justly, and piously?
We
live soberly when we use temporal goods according to the intention
and will of God, and to supply our necessary wants; we live justly
when we desire for, and render to, our neighbor what, by the example
of Christ, we are bound to; we live piously when we give God His due
honor, love Him above all things, and love all men, in Christ, for
His sake.
GOSPEL
Luke 2. 1-14.
At
that time there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the
whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by
Cyrinus the governor of Syria : And all went to be enrolled, every
one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of
the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to
be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it
came to pass,that when they were there, her days were accomplished,
that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born
Son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling-clothes, and laid Him in a
manger : because there was no room for them in the inn. And there
were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the
night-watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood
by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them, and they
feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them : Fear not : for
behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all
the people; for this day is born to you a Saviour, Who is Christ the
Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you : You
shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a
manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest
: and on earth peace to men of good will.
Why
did Caesar Augustus publish a decree that all the Roman subjects
should be enrolled?
The
immediate reasons of Caesar are not known to us, but the result shows
that it was done by the special providence of God, for Joseph and
Mary were thus obliged to go to Bethlehem, and so the prophecy of
Micheas, that the Messias should be born there, was fulfilled.
Why
is Christ called the first-born Son of Mary?
Because
she had no child before Him ; and, moreover, having no other after
Him, He is also the only-begotten of His blessed Mother, as He was
the first-born and only-begotten of His heavenly Father (Hebrews 1:
6).
Why
was the Saviour of the world born in a stable?
To
show, from His very birth, that He had not come to establish a
splendid worldly kingdom, but a kingdom of grace, justice, and peace,
and to lead us to imitate His example of poverty, humility, and
contempt of the world.
Why
was the birth of Christ first announced to the poor shepherds, and
not to the high priests?
To
show that God does not distribute His graces through respect for
persons : He exalts the humble, and humbles those who exalt
themselves. The angels for joy praised God, and sang, “Glory to God
in the highest,” that is, Praise and thanks to our heavenly Father
for sending His only-begotten Son for the salvation of men, “and on
earth peace” that is, prosperity, happiness, salvation, and
blessing “to men of good will.”
Learn
from the angels to be thankful for all the benefits which God bestows
upon thy neighbor, and then you also will partake of them. In
particular, thank God today for the inexpressible benefit of the
incarnation of Jesus Christ.
OF
THE SECOND MASS
The
Introit of this Mass reminds us of the temporal birth of Our Saviour
in Bethlehem. “A light shall shine upon us today, for Our Lord is
born to us, and He shall be called Wonderful, God, the Prince of
peace, the Father of the world to come, of Whose reign there shall be
no” (Isaiah 9: 6). “The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with
beauty ; the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself”
(Psalms 92. 1). Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen
Prayer
Grant,
we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who are filled with the new
light of Thy incarnate Word, may show forth in our works what faith
displays in our mind. Through the same Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
EPISTLE
Titus 3: 4-7.
Dearly
Beloved: The goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared : not
by the works of justice which we have done, but according to His
mercy He saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and renovation of
the Holy Ghost, Whom He hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through
Jesus Christ our Saviour : that, being justified by His grace, we may
be heirs, according to hope, of life everlasting in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
What
does St. Paul teach us in this epistle?
He
teaches us what God has done and is doing that we may have eternal
life, and why He does it. Not by our own merits, but according to His
mercy, He has saved us by holy Baptism, for we were conceived and
born in sin. Let us show by our lives that we are renewed by the Holy
Ghost, and animated by the hope of life everlasting.
Why
did not God have mercy on the fallen angels?
This
is a mystery which should heighten our love to God, but should also
fill us with fear and trembling, for if we do not use the goodness
and kindness of God to our advantage our punishment will be severer
than that of the fallen angels.
GOSPEL
Luke 2:15-20.
At
that time the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to
Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the
Lord hath showed to us. And they came with haste : and they found
Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they
understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this
child. And all that heard wondered : and at those things that were
told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering
them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and
praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was
told unto them.
How
could the shepherds know that the newborn child was the Saviour of
the world?
The
angels had given them a sign : “You shall find the infant wrapped
in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a manger,” and seeing, they
believed, fell on their knees, and adored the child. They then
praised God for the graces they had received, and made known what
they had heard and seen to others.
What
do we learn from Mary in this gospel?
That
we should ponder the divine truths in our hearts, and, by this
heavenly nourishment, strengthen and preserve our souls in spiritual
life.
OF
THE THIRD MASS
The
Introit of the third Mass reminds us of the spiritual birth of Christ
in our hearts. “A child is born to us, and a son is given to us,
and the government is upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called
the Angel of great counsel” (Isaiah 9: 6). “Sing ye to the Lord a
new canticle, for He hath done wonderful things” (Psalms 97: 1).
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it
was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen
Prayer
Grant,
we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the new birth of Thine
only-begotten Son in the flesh may deliver us, who are held by the
old bondage under the yoke of sin. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ,
etc. Amen.
EPISTLE
Hebrews 1: 1-12.
God,
Who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past to the
fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days, has spoken to us
by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also
He made the world : Who being the brightness of His glory, and the
figure of His substance, and upholding all things by the word of His
power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the
Majesty on high : being made so much better than the angels, as He
had inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the
angels hath He said at any time : Thou art My Son, today have I
begotten
Thee? And again: I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a
Son? And again, when He bringeth in the first-begotten into the
world, He saith : And let all the angels of God adore Him. And to the
angels indeed He saith : He that maketh His angels spirits, and His
ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son : Thy throne, O God, is
forever and ever : a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of Thy
kingdom. Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity : therefore God,
Thy God hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy
fellows. And : Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth :
and the works of Thy hands are the heavens. They shall perish, but
Thou shalt continue, and they shall all grow old as a garment. And as
a vesture shalt Thou change them and they shall be changed : but Thou
art the self-same, and Thy years shall not fail.
Meditation
How
magnificently does this epistle set forth the kindness and love of
God the Father, Who, for a teacher, has given us, not a prophet, but
His only Son ! How beautifully does it prove the divinity of Christ,
since God has begotten Him from all eternity, and created the heavens
and earth through Him, Who is always the same, and His throne forever
and ever ! Learn, O Christian soul, from this epistle, how much thou
art obliged to love God, to trust Him, and to follow Christ thy
example, for without imitating Him thou canst neither belong to His
elect, nor have part in His redemption.
Aspiration
O
heavenly Father, I thank Thee with my whole heart, for having spoken
to us through Thy only-begotten Son, Whom Thou hast made better than
the angels. I will, O Father of mercy, listen to Him with gratitude,
and use His sublime teachings for the perfect enlightenment of my
mind and heart.
GOSPEL
John 1: 1-14.
In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made
by Him and without Him was
made
nothing that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of
men ; and the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not
comprehend it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all
men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give
testimony of the light, that was the true light which enlighteneth
every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the
world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His
own, and His own received Him not. But as many as
received
Him, He gave them power to be made the sons of God ; to them that
believe in His name. Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And THE WORD WAS MADE
FLESH, and dwelt among us ; and we saw His glory, the glory as it
were of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
What
does St. John mean by the “Word”?
He
means the Son of God, Who is called the Word of the Father, because
He was begotten as the word is produced from the thought, but in a
manner more beautiful and mysterious. In His divine nature He is one
with the Father ; but in person distinct from Him ; as the word
spoken is at the same time one with Him Who speaks, and yet distinct
from Him. He is also called the Word because it is through Him that
the Father has declared to us His will.
What
is the meaning of, “in the beginning was the Word,” etc.?
It
means that at the beginning of the world the Son of God already was,
and, therefore, was begotten of His Father from all eternity. Thus,
at the beginning of his gospel St. John teaches Christ's eternity,
divinity, and equality with the Father.
What
is the meaning of, “all things were made by the Word”?
That
the Son of God, Himself true God, with the Father and the Holy Ghost,
created all things that were made, both visible and invisible, in
perfect order and beauty (Proverbs 8: 30).
What
is the meaning of, “in Him was life”?
That,
as the living God, He was the source and fountain of all life.
How
was the “Life the light of men”?
The
Eternal Son, Who was the life, was also the light of men, because He
was the Truth to enlighten them with the knowledge and love of God,
that, avoiding sin and ignorance, they might walk with safety in the
way of salvation.
In
what sense are we to understand the words, “and the light shineth
in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it”?
Christ
made known the true knowledge of God to men who were in spiritual
darkness, that is, in error and ignorance, but they would not receive
His holy teaching. This is still the case with those who,
notwithstanding the preaching of the Gospel, Will not believe, and
particularly with those hardened sinners who will not return to God,
although He pours upon them the light of His grace to move them to
penance.
Who
is meant by him who “came to bear witness of that light”?
St.
John the Baptist, who endeavored by his preaching to prepare the Jews
for the coming of Christ, and who testified before the whole world
that He was the expected King and Messias.
How
are we made children of God?
By
the grace which we receive in holy Baptism.
What
is to be understood by, “the Word was made flesh”?
We
are to understand by it that the Word was not changed into human
nature, but that He became incarnate by the Holy Ghost, of the Virgin
Mary, and was made man, uniting in one person the two natures, divine
and human. He was the Godman, Who walked among men thirty-three
years, marking every step by favors and benefits. He assumed, says
St. Leo, the nature of man, who was to be reconciled to God, in order
that Satan, the author of death, might be overcome by that same
nature which he had before conquered ; and thus Our Lord and Saviour
vanquished our most cruel enemy, not in majesty, but in humility.
What
is the meaning of, “and we saw His glory, the glory of the
only-begotten of the Father”?
The
evangelist hereby indicates that he and his fellow apostles were
permitted to see the glory of the God-man ; for instance, on Mount
Thabor ; in His miracles ; in His glorious resurrection and
ascension. Thus they saw Him and knew that He was the true Son of
God, the fountain of all good, from which all receive life, and
light, and grace (John 1: 16).
Aspiration
O
God, Father in heaven, Who, in the form of an amiable child, hast
given to us poor sinners this past night Thy only begotten Son, born
of the immaculate Virgin Mary, to be our Mediator and Redeemer, we
thank Thee with all our hearts for this inexpressible grace, and
beseech Thee, of Thy goodness, to preserve in us the perpetual memory
of it, that, in all our adversities and temptations, we may have
comfort and consolation, with strength to love, serve, and praise
Thee, in holiness and purity, until the last hour of our lives. Amen.
– Goffine's
Devout Instructions
