Hodie Christus Natus Est

Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus est tu, ego tu, hodie genui te.
Der Herr spricht zu Mir: "Mein Sohn bist du, heute habe Ich Dich gezeugt."
The Lord said unto Me: "Your are My Son, this day have I begotten Thee."

Two of theChristmas Masses are named, in German:
The first of the Christmas Masses - Missa in nocte - is Engelamt - Mass of the angels.
The Second Mass - Missa in aurura - is Hirtenamt - Mass of the Shepherds.

One of the curious customs of the Christmas octave is that the preface of the Nativity is used at all Masses celebrated during the octave. St. Stephen, St. John, the Holy Innocents, (St. Thomas of Canterbury and St. Sylvester) all use the Nativity preface. The Lutheran Magdeburg Cathedral Book, the Roman Rite and the Anglican Missal all agree on this.

The Collect of the Nativity is also added to the Collect of the day being celebrated. In this way the Octave of the Nativity is commemorated in all other Masses.

Blessed are they who see Christmas through the eyes of a child.

May this be your gift at Christmas.

From the Martyrology for Christmas Day

The reading of the Martyrology for a given day is always anticipated, being read on the preceding day. Therefore, this portion of the martryology for Christmas Day may be read prior to the beginning of the Christmas Midnight Mass. It presents the time line of the Incarnation.

In the year from the creation of the world, when God created heaven and earth, five thousand one hundred and ninety-nine; from the flood, two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven; from the birth of Abraham, two thousand and fifteen; from Moses and the coming of the Israelites out of Egypt, one thousand five hundred and ten; from the anointing of King David, one thousand and thirty-two; in the sixty-fifth week, according to the prophecy of Daniel; in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; in the year seven hundred and fifty-two from the foundation of the city of Rome; in the forty-second year of the empire of Octavian Augustus, when the whole world was at peace, in the sixth age of the world, Jesus Christ, eternal God, and Son of the eternal Father, desirous to sanctify the world by His most merciful coming, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and nine months having elapsed since His conception, is born in Bethlehem of Juda, having become Man of the Virgin Mary. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

O Emmanuel

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 23 - O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of nations and their Savior: Come, and save us, O Lord our God.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ranson captive Israel, That morns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Refrain.

O Rex Gentium

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 22 - O Rex Gentium
O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salve hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O King of Gentiles, and their Desire, the cornerstone that binds two into one: Come and save mankind whom You have fashioned out of clay.

O come Desire of Nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind, And bid their sad divisions cease, And be Thyself the King of Peace. Refrain.

O Oriens,

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 21 - O Oriens
O Oriens, speldor lucis aeternae, et sol iustitae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et in umbra mortis.

O Dayspring, splendor of Light eternal and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh, Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain.

O Clavis David

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 20 - O Clavis David
O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, Who opens and no one closes, Who closes and no one opens: Come, and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home, Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Refrain.

O Radix Iesse

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 19 - O Radix Iesse,

O radix Iesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before Whom all kings are mute, to Whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satin's tyrany, That trust Thy mighty power to save, And bring them victory o'er the grave. Refrain.

O Adonai

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons. These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel, Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

December 18 - O Adonai

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae furi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in bracchio extendo.

O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel, Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height, In ancient times didst give the Law, In cloud and majerty and awe. Refrain.

O Sapientia

The greater antiphons at the Magnificat are begun on December 17, and are said , each on its day, until the day before the vigil of Christmas. If a feast is celebrated, they are said after the collect of the feast, for a commemoration of Advent. These antiphons are best known in the form of the hymn Veni Immanuel. Lutheran Worship, hymn 31, includes all seven of these versified antiphons.
These antiphons are listed below in Latin, in English translation, and in verse. The hymn includes the refrain "Gaude, gaude, Immanuel Nascetur pro te Israel - Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel."

December 17 - O Sapientia

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from the beginning even unto the end, mightliy ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who orders all things mightliy, To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. Refrain.

Christianity Disrespects non-Christians

It is inevitable. Our Lord Himself said that "When they kill you, thay will think that they are doing God a service."

It seems that there is a town in Pennsylvania that was "required" to remove a Nativity display that had been in place for 57 years; because a (one, singular, individual) citizen deemed it to be offensive to non-Christians. The question was also raised about the "Separation of Church and State"; because the display was in a government building.

If you click on the title above, you will be directed to Glenn Beck's comments on this point. It does seem that this discussion was between Glen and one of his staff; but you will get the point.

It seems that the Devil and his band are working overtime to discredit any and all displays honoring the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ simply because these displays "disrespect non-believers.?"

It has always been my opinion that "respect" is not a right; respect is something that is earned. In modern parlance, if you say something negative about someone you "dis" (disrespect) that person. Therefore, respect is seen as a given. How, then, is it "disrespectful" to a person who simple disagrees with the statement you are making?

How can one disrespect a non-Christian merely by displaying a Nativity scene, even on "government" property, simply by it being there: the question of the (so called) separation of Church and State to the contrary notwithstanding?