Adoration of the Shepherds, Caravaggio, 1609
Museo Regionale, Messina, Italy [Web Gallery of Art]
The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord has four different Mass formularies, each with its own prayer and readings. Any of the four fulfills our obligation to attend Mass. These are:
Vigil Mass, celebrated 'either before or after First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of the Nativity'; that means starting between 5pm and 7pm.
Mass During the Night, known before as 'Midnight Mass'. In many parts of the world it does begin at midnight but here in the Philippines since the 1980s it begins earlier, usually at 8:30pm or 9pm.
Mass at Dawn.
Mass During the Day.
When you click on 'Readings' below from the New American Bible you will find links to the readings for each of the four Masses. The readings from the Jerusalem Bible for the four Masses are all on one page.
Readings
(Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India
[optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)
In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in
the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and
without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was
life, and the life was the light of all people. The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so
that all might believe through him. He himself
was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true
light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into
being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to
what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all
who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of
God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of
the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John
testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes
after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”’) From his
fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law
indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has
ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Adeste fideles læti triumphantes,
O come,
all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
O come ye,
O come ye to Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum:
Come and
behold him born the King of Angels:
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus, venite
adoremus Dominum.
O come,
let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the
Lord.
What Christmas is All About
From A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schultz
And there
were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over
their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the
angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men.(Luke 2:8-14, KJV).
Adoration of the Shepherds, Murillo, 1646-50
Christmas Concerto, Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713)
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
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