St. Anastasia

St. Anastasia – December 25th

This second Christmas Station dates from the 6th century, when there was on the Palatine at Rome a Byzantine governor with a court Eastern functionaries; their nearest church was St. Anastasia’s. Besides, this saint (mentioned in the Canon of the Mass, second list) was an oriental virgin and martyr, burnt alive at Sirmium (the present Mitrowitza in Yugoslavia) one 25th December, during the persecution of Diocletian (beginning of the 4th century). The Byzantine court obtained from the Pope that, between the Night-Mass at St Mary Major, and the Day-Mass (then at St. Peter’s) he should celebrate at dawn a Mass in honour of St. Anastasia, on her “dies natalis” and in her church.

When Rome ceased to belong to the Byzantine empire, this Station remained, but the text of the Mass was altered into a second Nativity-Mass, keeping only the commemoration of St. Anastasia.

After this Mass at dawn, the Pope, instead of going to St Peter’s for the third Station, returned to St Mary Major, because the distance was shorter.

The Child whom the liturgy makes us greet with gladness, lying in the crib, is in reality He who should in truth be called “Wonderful, God, the Prince of peace, the Father of the world to come: of whose reign there shall be no end” (Inroit). He is the Man-God who comes to transform our human life and, by allowing us to partake of His divine life, to make us “heirs of life everlasting” (that is the note running through the whole of this Mass). The dawn which the Church calls on us to greet this morning is, therefore, the dawn of that day of salvation which, begun on earth, stretches out into eternity and never comes to a close.

Let us make haste to go with the shepherds to whom almighty God showed forth the Incarnation of His Son (Gospel), to adore at the altar, our manger, the Word born from all eternity of His heavenly Father, born of Mary upon earth, and who should be born increasingly by grace in our hearts, while we await the time when He will cause us to be born into His glorious life in heaven.

Christmas, the Birthday of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Christmas, the Birthday of Our Lord Jesus Christ

– December 25th

When the time had come in which the Son of God was to become man for love of us, His mother Mary and St. Joseph had to leave this home in Nazareth and go to Bethlehem. The reason for this journey was that the Roman Emperor wanted to count the number of his subjects, and so every Jewish family had to go to the city of their ancestors. Since Mary and Joseph belonged to the royal family of David, they had to go to David’s city of Bethlehem. The Emperor had made the law, but it served to fulfill God’s plan, for in the Holy Bible, it was written that the Savoir was to be born in Bethlehem.


It was a slow, hard journey for our Blessed Mother over the mountainous country to Bethlehem, but she knew she was doing God’s will and she was happy thinking of her Divine Son soon to be born. When Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem, they found that there was no place for them to stay. At last, they had to go into a cave, where the breath of an ox and a donkey kept them warm. There in that rough stable, the Son of God was born on Christmas Day. His Blessed Mother wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger. Our Lord chose to be born in such poverty so that we would learn not to desire riches and comforts.


The very night in which Jesus was born, God sent His angels to announce His Birth. The angels were not sent to the Emperor or the King, nor even to the learned doctors and chief priests. They were sent to poor, humble shepherds who were watching their flocks on the hillside near Bethlehem. As soon as they heard the angels’ message, these good, simple men hurried to adore the Savior of the world. Then they went home giving praise and glory to God.


The great Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament had been comforted by the thought that someday the Savior would come into the world. Now that He had come, all good men rejoiced. Christ came for all of us. The Bible says: “God so loved the world that He sent His only-begotten Son.” If those who lived in the hope of His coming were happy, how much more ought we to rejoice! We have His teachings, His Church, and Jesus Himself on our altars. Christmas is the time when we realize more than ever how much God loves us!


Today I will offer myself to Baby Jesus with all my heart.



The Birth of Jesus

Now it came to pass in those days, that a decree went forth from Caesar Augustus that a census of the whole world should be taken. This first census took place while Cyrinus was governor of Syria. And all were going, each to his own town, to register.

And Joseph also went to Galilee out of the town of Nazareth into Judea to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem – because he was of the house and family of David – to register, together with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass while they were there, that the days for her to be delivered were fulfilled. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.




The Shepherds at the Crib


And there were shepherds in the same district living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them and the glory of God shone round about them, and they feared exceedingly.


And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be to all the people; for today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will.”


And it came to pass, when the angels had departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”


So they went with haste, and they found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they had seen, they understood what had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard marvelled at the things told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept in mind all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken to them.
-Luke 2:1-20