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What Is Midnight Mass and when does it start?

Midnight Mass is a tradition where Christians gather at a church for a service of worship in honor of Jesus on Christmas Eve. This Mass traditionally has taken place at midnight, and many of us have memories of the custom of attending the liturgy at this time. However, this Mass can be celebrated at different times during the night and is officially titled, “The Mass During the Night.”

Pope Benedict moved the Mass time to 10:00 pm during his Pontificate, while Pope Francis held it at 9:30 pm and even moved the Mass to 7:30 pm during the pandemic so attendees could return home before the local curfew.

It was in the early centuries when the Nativity of Our Lord was celebrated during the feast of the Epiphany. It soon became customary to celebrate the birth of Christ as a distinct liturgical feast. The date December 25 was chosen as it is believed that Jesus was born near the winter solstice and it is exactly nine months after Christians celebrate the incarnation of Jesus, the Annunciation.

In the latter part of the fourth century, Christians in the Holy Land became known for celebrating a midnight vigil of Christmas in Bethlehem, followed by a candlelit procession to Jerusalem. Then around 440 AD, Pope St. Sixtus III desired to bring this celebration to Rome. He erected a small chapel, with a manger, at the Church of St. Mary Major and reinforced the long-standing Christian belief that Christ was born at midnight — a custom which he continued year after year.

The midnight Christmas Mass became known as the Angels’ Mass, which celebrated the heavenly announcement of Christ’s birth, and his unity with God the Father.

In the eleventh century the custom of offering three Christmas Masses, beginning with Midnight Mass, spread throughout the world. Later on, an early Vigil Mass was later. These four Masses are unique, each with its own set of readings. The Masses are:

The Vigil Mass (Christmas Eve)
The Mass During the Night (Midnight Mass)
The Mass at Dawn
The Mass During the Day

There is something uniquely special about attending Mass in the middle of the night. For many Catholics, Midnight Mass provides a sense of peace and joy, a holiness that centers on the birth of Jesus Christ.

So whatever time you go to Mass, may you have a blessed and Merry Christmas!





Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn