Dec. 24 Christmas Eve +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 piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, ...Sunday
Dec. 25 Solemnity of Christmas Today the Church celebrates the Birth of Jesus Christ, the first day in the octave of Christmas. Throughout Advent the Church longed ardently for the coming of our Savior. Today she celebrates His birth with unrestrained joy. ...Solemnity
Dec. 26 Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr Today is the second day in the octave of Christmas. The Church celebrates the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stoned outside Jerusalem, he died praying for his executioners. He was one of the seven deacons who ...Feast
Dec. 27 Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist Today is the third day in the octave of Christmas. The Church celebrates the Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist. Born in Bethsaida, he was called while mending his nets to follow Jesus. He became the beloved disciple of ...Feast
Dec. 28 Feast of the Holy Family Scripture tells us practically nothing about the first years and the boyhood of the Child Jesus. All we know are the facts of the sojourn in Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the incidents that occurred when the twelve-year-old ...Feast
Dec. 30 Sixth day in the Octave of Christmas It would be ideal if we could devote several days of the Christmas octave to quiet contemplation, entering ever more deeply into the sweet and profound mystery of the Incarnation; yet much of the time is devoted to the saints. ...Weekday
Dec. 31 Optional Memorial of St. Sylvester I, pope Today is the seventh day in the octave of Christmas. The Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Sylvester I, pope and confessor. He ruled the Church during the reign of Constantine when the Arian heresy and the Donatist ...Opt. Mem.
Jan. 2 Memorials of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors Today the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors. This is the ninth day of the Christmas season. St. Basil was a brilliant student born of a Christian family in ...Memorial
Jan. 3 Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Today the Church celebrates the optional memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite this feast is celebrated on January 2. In the liturgical ...Opt. Mem.
Jan. 4 Epiphany of the Lord Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany. "The Lord and ruler is coming; kingship is his, and government and power." With these words the Church proclaims that today's feast brings to a perfect fulfillment all ...
Jan. 5 Memorial of St. John Neumann, bishop (USA) John Nepomucene Neumann was born in Bohemia. While in the seminary he felt a desire to help in the American missions. After coming to the United States he was ordained in New York in 1836. Entering the Congregation of the Most ...Memorial
Jan. 6 Optional Memorial of St. Andre Bessette, religious; Epiphany (traditional) St. André was born near Quebec, and entered the Congregation of the Holy Cross as a Brother. He performed humble tasks for over forty years and entrusted all of the poor and sick who flocked to his cell to the care of St. ...Opt. Mem.