The Nativity of the Lord

25 December  ·  Solemnity  ·  White

The light in the painting comes from the Child. Everything else — the Mother's face, the angels, the shepherds at the door — is lit by Him. Rome kept 25 December as the day of Christ's birth before the year 354: the Philocalian calendar of that year records under the eighth day before the Kalends of January, natus Christus in Betleem Judeae. Gregory Nazianzen brought the feast to Constantinople in 379 or 380, and St John Chrysostom preached it at Antioch in 386. The Church says three Masses on this day, at midnight, at dawn and in the daylight, a custom the old sacramentaries already know: the first at the manger-chapel of St Mary Major, the second at St Anastasia, the third at St Peter's. The light in the painting is the first Mass.

Cyril Martindale, “Christmas”, The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 3 (1908): newadvent.org

The Gospel of the feast

¹And it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. ²This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. ³And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. ⁴And 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. ⁵To be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. ⁶And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn. ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. ⁹And 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. ¹⁰And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: ¹¹For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.

Luke 2:1–14, Douay-Rheims (Challoner)

In painting

The feasts of the year  ·  The Rosary