Denver Catholic

12 DECEMBER 2020 | DENVER CATHOLIC T H E V I G I L M A S S: J OY F U L A N T I CI PAT I O N We are still in a time of waiting and antic- ipation, which is clear in the Entrance Anti- phon: "Today you will know that the Lord will come, and he will save us, and in the morning you will see his glory." We are moving out of Advent into the joy of Christmas, still some- what waiting in joyful anticipation. This is also reflected at the beginning of Mass in the Collect as we pray: "O God, who gladden us year by year as we wait in hope for our redemption, grant that, just as we joyfully welcome your Only Begotten Son as our Redeemer, we may also merit to face him con- fidently when he comes again as our Judge." In the Gospel for this Mass, we hear not about the actual event of the birth of Christ, but the same Gospel readings that we read a week prior in Advent. They recall the geneal- ogy of Jesus and one of the events that led up to his birth. One last time, the Gospel reading is preparing us for the impending birth of the Lord. The Four Masses of Christmas CH R I STMA S BY HUNG PHAM Director of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of Denver W hile most liturgical celebrations have one Mass, certain solemnities may have two different Masses: a Vigil Mass and a Mass for the Day. However, the celebration of Christmas is unique. For the Nativity of the Lord, the Church gives us four different Masses to celebrate: the Vigil Mass and the three traditional Masses of Christmas Day – Mass during the Night, Mass at Dawn, and Mass during the Day. While each of the Masses celebrate the birth of Christ, they have different readings and prayers assigned to them which emphasize a different aspect of the Nativity and lead us on a journey from the waiting of Advent to the joy of Christmas. O Come Emmanuel The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds, Thomas Cole, 1833-1834

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