It came upon a midnight clear. Thus goes the hymn. Why do we celebrate Mass at midnight? Because, Our Lord Jesus was born at midnight. In the Book of Wisdom, chapter 18, [14] ‘’For while all things were in quiet silence, (Silent Night, Holy Night), and the night was in the midst of her course, (midnight), [15] Thy almighty word leapt down from heaven from thy royal throne, as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction.’’ The Church applies these words to the birth of Christ in the traditional Missal, in the Introit, on the Sunday in the Octave of Christmas.
Also, in the St. Andrew Christmas novena, it honors the birth of Christ at midnight in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
In THE MYSTICAL CITY OF God, revelations of the Blessed Mother to Venerable Mary of Agreda, Spain, the Blessed Mother said to her, “My son was born on a Sunday, at midnight, in the year 5,199 from the creation of the world.” These revelations have the approval of at least 6 popes, Including Pope Pius XI, who granted the Apostolic Benediction to all readers and promoters of The City of God. The Mystical City of God has been said to bear more imprimaturs than any other book except the Bible itself, and used by many popes for spiritual reading. So in order to honor Christ in the hour and moment of his birth, the Church celebrates the Mass at exactly that time to coincide with his holy birth.
So isn’t it strange, in recent years, that many clergy no longer make the sacrifice of the midnight Mass, but will say it at an earlier time for their convenience? Sad. One parish moved their Mass to 10 PM. Another parish isn’t even having a midnight Mass. One good priest got a call a few years ago about if they were having a midnight Mass. And he said, ‘’Yes.’’ She asked him what time it was, and he said, “Midnight.” You see, the laxity in the clergy is spreading around. We are not obligated to go to midnight Mass if we go on Christmas day, but if we are able, it is a good sacrifice, like the shepherds who were tending their sheep that night, and an angel appeared to them and gave them the wonderful news. Then they were even privileged to hear the angels singing from on high. Can you imagine what heavenly music that must have been? No doubt they went very joyfully and with haste to see the Babe in the manger that night. “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will.” “That is,’’ said St. Alphonsus, ‘’those who do God’s will.’’ Amen. ‘’Teach me to do Thy will, O God,’’ said David. And St. Joseph’s often repeated prayer, “May the will of God ever be done in me.’’ Amen.
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