The Proclamation Of The Birth Of Christ

The Roman Martyrology for Christmas day contains a formal announcement of the birth of Christ in the style of a proclamation.  It begins with creation and relates the birth of the Lord to the major events and personages of sacred and secular history.  The particular events contained in the proclamation help to situate the birth of Jesus in the context of salvation history.

The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ may be sung or proclaimed after the greeting and introduction of the Christmas Midnight Mass.  The Gloria and opening prayer immediately follow the proclamation.

Today, the twenty-fifth day of December, unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth and then formed man and women in his own image.

Several thousand years after the flood, when God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant.

Twenty-one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah; thirteen centuries after Moses led this people of Israel out of Egypt.

Eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the Judges; one thousand years from the anointing of David as king; in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel.

In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome.

The forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus; the whole world being at peace, Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father, desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and nine months having passed since his conception, was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary.

Today is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

Holiday Reminder: The Price For Peace On Earth

The Final Inspection

The Marine stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
'Step forward now, Marine,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?'
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the Marine waited quietly,  

For the judgment of his God.
'Step forward now, you Marine,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell.'

~Author Unknown~ 

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Thoughts For Christmas

The mystery of Christmas lays upon us all a debt and an obligation to the rest of [humankind] and to the whole created universe. We who have seen the light of Christ are obliged, by the greatness of the grace that has been given us, to make known the presence of the Savior to the ends of the earth. This we will do not by preaching the glad tidings of His coming, but above all by revealing Him in our lives. Christ is born to us today, in order that He may appear to the whole world through us.

Thomas Merton
Seasons of Celebration

 

This one day is the day of His birth, but every day of our mortal lives must be his manifestation, His divine Epiphany, in the world which He has created and redeemed.

Thomas Merton
Seasons of Celebration

Gratitude

Gratitude takes nothing for granted,
is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening
to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God.

Thomas Merton
Thoughts in Solitude

Prayer

Prayer and love are learned in the hour when prayer becomes impossible and the heart has turned to stone.

Thomas Merton

Strength & Comfort

Every time I get worried about something I say my prayers more.

Jim Burns

I never outgrow the need for strength and comfort.

That's good news.

It's too awesome to think that I need to know all now, to understand how every detail of living should unfold.

It's quite enough to limit my focus on the details of the next 24 hours.

Let's be vigilant about my search for guidance and comfort.

And let's not forget that I have to listen for the response.

If my mind is filled with worrying, there will be no space for the answers to enter.

Praying for solutions or comfort or 

just a moment of peace will 

change my perspective today. 

When my perspective changes, 

so do my experiences.