By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK
To wish you and yours a most blessed feast of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I offer the text of the Holy Gospel According to Luke, chapter 2, verses 1-14 proclaimed at midnight Mass, the first of Christmas.
The Latin text as proclaimed in our Traditional Latin Masses for “ad primam missam in nocte”:
Factum est autem in diebus illis, exiit edictum a Cæsare Augusto ut describeretur universus orbis. Hæc descriptio prima facta est a præside Syriæ Cyrino: et ibant omnes ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem. Ascendit autem et Joseph a Galilæa de civitate Nazareth in Judæam, in civitatem David, quæ vocatur Bethlehem: eo quod esset de domo et familia David, ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore prægnante.
Factum est autem, cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret. Et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit, et reclinavit eum in præsepio: quia non erat eis locus in diversorio. Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum.
Et ecce angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. Et dixit illis angelus: Nolite timere: ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo: quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David. Et hoc vobis signum: invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in præsepio. Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militiæ cælestis laudantium Deum, et dicentium: Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis.
And the English Douai Rheims translation:
“And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.
“And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock.
“And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.”
The notes for the text include this explanation of the phrase “Her firstborn”: “The meaning is, not that she had afterward any other child; but it is a way of speech among the Hebrews, to call them also the firstborn, who are the only children.”
“To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the kingdom. For this, we must humble ourselves and become little. Even more: to become ‘children of God’ we must be ‘born from above’ or ‘born of God.’ Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us. Christmas is the mystery of this ‘marvelous exchange’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 526).
“O wondrous exchange! The Creator of Man, having assumed a living body, deigned to be born of a Virgin, and having become Man without Man’s aid, enriched us with His divinity” (Antiphon 1, First Vespers of January 1st, Octave of the Nativity of the Lord).
Because of the goodness of God recounted here in the Nativity story, all of our churches become at Christmas, and every time the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered, another Bethlehem, or “house of bread.”
May this firstborn and only Son of God who becomes a Gift each time we receive Him truly present in the Holy Eucharist become born anew in our hearts and minds through the grace He thus gives us. Christmas is the “Christ Mass,” the celebration of the holy Mass on the occasion of his birth.
Merry Christmas and a most blessed New Year of grace 2016. Thank you for reading throughout the year. Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever.
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(Thank you for reading. Follow me on Twitter @MCITLFrAphorism and on Facebook at Reverendo Padre-Kevin Michael Cusick.)
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