Vigil. The Nativity Of Our Lord. 24 December.

The Angels Announcing Christ's Birth To The Shepherds.

Artist: Govert Flinck (1615–1660).

Date: 1639.

Collection: Louvre Museum, Paris, France.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

The Vigil Of The Nativity Of Our Lord.
   24 December.

Indulgence of 15 Years and 15 Quarantines.

Double (from Lauds, onward).

Privilege of The First-Class.

Violet Vestments.

The Vigil of Christmas is impregnated with Holy Cheerfulness, and, if it were not for the Vestments of Penance and Fasting [Editor: Violet Vestments] one would imagine that The Feast had begun.

The Church joyfully awaits the twofold Coming of her Redeemer (Collect), Who "saves His people from their sins" (Gospel) and Who is The Shepherd of Israel (Gradual), that is The Church, of whom all are Members who have Faith in Jesus Christ.

Thus, Isaias foretells that "all flesh shall see The Salvation of God" and Saint Paul adds that he has been chosen to be The Apostle of The Gospel, "for obedience to The Faith in all Nations for His Name."

With the help of today's Mass, we may prepare to Celebrate the anniversary of "The Adorable Birthday" of The Only-Begotten Son of God (Secret and Postcommunion), The Son of David, Whom the spouse of Joseph brought into the World (Gospel) and Who, "born as man" according to the seed of David, has, by His Resurrection, proved, beyond all question, that He was God (Epistle).

Since this Resurrection was, for Christ, the prelude to His Glorious Reign, for us, it is the pledge of our own glorification and resurrection at The End of Time; thus, today's Liturgy prepares us for The Second Coming of Our Lord. "Today", the Introit and the Gradual say, "you shall know that The Lord will come and save us; and, in the morning, you shall see His Glory." "Sanctify yourselves and be ye ready," says The First Response at Matins, "for tomorrow, you shall see The Son of God in your midst."

By these two days, today and tomorrow," explains Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, "are meant that of the present life, which is short and gloomy, and that of Eternity amidst the splendours of The Saints. Our learning here below consists in remembering that The Lord is coming; and it is The First Coming of The Son of God which enlightens us about His Second Coming. It calls forth contrition, blazes forth in correction, shines through our zeal and renews us within and without.

Meditate on the marvels of The Lord's Mercy vouchsafed in His Incarnation, that, when the last morning dawns, we may contemplate those of His Glory.

"Tomorrow", says the Alleluia,"shall the iniquity of the Earth be abolished; and The Saviour of the World shall reign over us." Almighty God, The Creator of all things," adds the Psalmist, "is, indeed, The King of Glory, having snatched man from the power of Satan, receives him into His Heavenly Jerusalem [Editor: Versicle of Intercession, Offertory]. "Then shall The Glory of The Lord be manifested" (Communion).

Let us, therefore, prepare ourselves "with Holy Joy, Celebrating The Coming of The Only-Begotten Son of God, Who comes as Redeemer at Christmas, in order that we may be able to contemplate Him with assurance, when He shall come as Judge at The End of The World" (Collect).

The Introit passage is from Exodus and refers to Moses' promise to the Hebrews, concerning The Manna from Heaven, and The Liturgy applies it to Our Lord, Who is The True Bread from On High.

"The Church," says Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, "inspired by Almighty God, has put these words in today's Office whence they acquire a strength of meaning corresponding to the distance between symbol and reality and between light and shade."

"It was all the more fitting," says Saint Gregory,, "that The Lord should have been born at Bethlehem, since Bethlehem means "House of Bread"; for it was He Who said "I am The Living Bread, Which came down from Heaven"."

"The place, where The Lord was born, was, of old, called "House of Bread", because it was there that He was to appear in the flesh, Who, one day, would interiorly satiate the Souls of His Elect" (Matins),

Mass: Hodie sciétis.

Collect: Deus, qui nos redemptionis. This is the only Collect said, unless The Vigil falls on The Fourth Sunday of Advent: In which case, a Commemoration (Collect) is made of that Sunday.

Creed: Is Said, or Sung, if The Vigil falls on a Sunday.

Preface: The Common Preface.

Preface: Of The Most Holy Trinity, if The Vigil falls on a Sunday.