The Word Made Flesh
The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord is one of the greatest holidays on the Christian calendar, ranking second only to Easter. Christmas, originally “Christ’s mass”, marks the event of the incarnation of Christ, when our Lord came into the world to save humanity.
Christmas is historically celebrated with three services–Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, and Christmas Day–a custom that reaches back to the earliest centuries of Christianity. Consequently this feast has three sets of propers that correlate with those separate services..
The first service, the Christmas Eve Mass, was originally connected with Vespers on December 24th. Starting at sunset, the liturgical beginning of Christmas Eve and the Christmastide season, this service in the early Church included the custom of placing a replica of Jesus’ manger near the altar. Based on the first biblical account of Jesus’ birth, Matthew 1:18-25, the propers for Christmas Eve focus on the angel coming to Joseph, announcing the forthcoming birth of Emmanuel.
The second service of the Night Mass came about from the belief that midnight was the hour when the Christ was born. The text that accompanies this service comes from the second of the two biblical accounts of Jesus’ birth: Luke 2:1-20, which focuses on the angels proclaiming the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.
Midnight Mass was implemented by Pope Sixtus III (440), who declared that this service need not occur right at 12:00am but should just be observed sometime during the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Therefore, some churches celebrate this service at dawn. A symbolic connection to the dawn can be found in the historical antiphon for the service, which comes from Isaiah 9, stating “The people that walked in the darkness have seen a great light; For unto us a child is born.”
Early Roman records even note that this service ought to be celebrated “ad galli cantum” or “when the cock crows,” indicating the service’s temporal placement between the days. Today in Spain there are still churches that celebrate the “misa de gallo,” which means “mass of the cock.”
The third service of the Feast of the Nativity comes on Christmas Day and focuses on the text of John 1 concerning the Divine Word. As the official celebration of the feast, this service is traditionally the main Communion service. After this third mass, familial and public Christmas celebrations officially began with all their joy and splendor.
Due to the three texts that accompany these three services, it has been said that these services take Christians through the theology of Jesus’ incarnation, with the first mass honoring the Son,incarnate by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary; the second mass celebrating Jesus’ incarnation and birth as a man; and the third Mass focusing on Jesus’ birth, the love and grace he brought into the world, and his status as the Word made flesh. Likewise, these three services have sometimes been known as the “Angels’ Mass,” the “Shepherds’ Mass,” and the “Mass of the Divine Word.”
A Brief History
Although many have and still like to argue about why December 25th was chosenas the date for the Feast of the Nativity, numerous early Church Fathers and historians have concluded that this is the actual date of Christ’s birth, verified by the conjoining Biblical stories of the Annunciation, Mary’s visit with Elizabeth, and the birth of St. John the Baptist and also corroborated by official records of the Roman census.
Thus, Christmas has been celebrated on December 25th since at least AD 330, a century before the beginning of the aforementioned traditions. Later on in the sixth century, Emperor Justinian declared Christmas Day to be a legal holiday, free from work or labor obligations.
As they went about preaching, the Church’s earliest missionaries and bishops introduced Christianity and Christmas to the entirety of pagan Europe. By about the year 1100, the majority of European countries were celebrating the Feast of the Nativity.
However, the Reformation brought a change to Christmas celebrations in these same countries. With increasing concerns about the veneration of saints and the historicity of the Church’s rich traditions, many Reformers cautioned against superstitious celebrations of Christmas, which they saw as prevalent throughout the Church.
However, Martin Luther loved Christmas and advocated for a proper celebration of the feast. In fact, one of his most well-known hymns is “Vom Himmel hoch,” or “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come,” written for his family’s Christmas Eve observance. Based on Luke 2, the piece includes fifteen verses, all of which are included in the Lutheran Service Book. Reading through the stanzas, Luther’s reverence for the Feast of the Holy Nativity is clear. May we also regard this celebration with high esteem, remembering Christ’s coming to us.
Collects
Christmas Eve
O God, who makest us glad with the yearly Expectation of the birth of Thine only Son Jesus Christ; grant that as we joyfully receive Him for our Redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold Him when He shall come to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Hòly Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Christmas Night
O God, who has made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: grant, we beseech Thee, that, as we have known on earth the mysteries of that Light; we may also come to the fullness of its joys in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Hòly Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Christmas Day
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almìghty God: that the new birth of Thine only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free; who are held in the old bondage under the yoke of sin; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Hòly Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Christmas Eve Lessons
Epistle
Gospel
Christmas Night Lessons
Epistle
Gospel
Christmas Day Lessons
Epistle
Gospel
Resources
Issues, Etc. interview with the Rev. David Petersen on Christmas Eve
Issues, Etc. interview with the Rev. David Petersen on Christmas Day
Propers found in Daily Divine Service Book: A Lutheran Daily Missal, edited by the Rev. Heath Curtis
References:
1. Urlin, Ethel L. Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints’ Days: A Study in Origins and Survivals in Church Ceremonies and Secular Customs. Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd. 1915.
2. Weiser, Francis X. Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs: The Year of the Lord in Liturgy and Folklore. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. 1952.
Images:
1. Detail of the Nativity Scene from Histoire du Vieux et du Nouveau Testament, De Hooghe, The Netherlands, 1706.
2. Nativity (Holy Night), Lucas Cranach the Elder, Germany, ca. 1515-1520.
3. Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst, The Netherlands, ca. 1622.
[…] Last Sunday of the Church Year and then stored in an airtight container until its debut during the Nativity of our Lord. This prayer, then, became a reminder to begin “stirring up” the pudding and preparing for […]