December 30
Friday in the Octave of Christmas
Today is observed as the Friday within the Octave of Christmas, a day that continues the Church’s intense celebration of the mystery of the Lord’s Nativity. The Octave of Christmas is a unique period in the liturgical year, comprising eight days that are treated as a single prolonged feast, beginning with the Solemnity of the Nativity and culminating in the feast of the Circumcision. Each day within this Octave is marked by a profound joy and solemnity, underscoring the importance of the Incarnation—God becoming man for the salvation of the world. This liturgical arrangement allows the faithful not simply to commemorate the birth of Christ as a single event, but to dwell deeply on its meaning and implications for the entirety of creation and human history.
During this Octave, the Church continues to wear white vestments, signifying purity and triumph, and the liturgical prayers and readings for each day often reflect upon themes connected to the mystery of the Word made Flesh, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and the revelation of divine love in the person of Jesus Christ. No other liturgical observances of saints or lesser feasts override the sacredness of these days. The Friday within the Octave, although not singled out with specific saints or separate events, is enveloped by the joy of the Nativity, and serves as a reminder of the enduring significance of Christ’s birth. Through this extended festal period, the faithful are invited to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation with renewed faith, hope, and thanksgiving.
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Questions about Friday in the Octave of Christmas (Vetus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
IntroitIsa 9:6
Latin
Isa 9:6
Puer natus est nobis, et fílius datus est nobis: cuius impérium super húmerum eius: et vocábitur nomen eius magni consílii Angelus.
Ps 97:1
Cantáte Dómino cánticum novum, quia mirabília fecit.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Puer natus est nobis, et fílius datus est nobis: cuius impérium super húmerum eius: et vocábitur nomen eius magni consílii Angelus.
English
Isa 9:6
A Child is born to us, a Son is given to us; upon His shoulder dominion rests; and His name shall be called the Angel of great counsel.
Ps 97:1
Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wondrous deeds.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
A Child is born to us, a Son is given to us; upon His shoulder dominion rests; and His name shall be called the Angel of great counsel.
Collect
Latin
Concéde, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut nos Unigéniti tui nova per carnem Natívitas líberet; quos sub peccáti iugo vetústa sérvitus tenet.
Per eúndem Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that the new birth, in the flesh, of Your only-begotten Son may deliver us whom the bondage of old keeps under the yoke of sin.
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
LessonTit 3:4-7
Latin
Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Titum
Tit 3:4-7
Caríssime: Appáruit benígnitas et humánitas Salvatóris nostri Dei: non ex opéribus iustítiæ, quæ fécimus nos, sed secúndum suam misericórdiam salvos nos fecit, per lavácrum regeneratiónis et renovatiónis Spíritus Sancti, quem effúdit in nos abúnde per Iesum Christum, Salvatórem nostrum: ut, iustificáti grátia ipsíus, herédes simus secúndum spem vitæ ætérnæ: in Christo Iesu, Dómino nostro.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to Titus
Titus 3:4-7
Dearly beloved: When the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared, then not by reason of good works that we did ourselves, but according to His mercy, He saved us through the bath of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit; Whom He has abundantly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour, in order that, justified by His grace, we may be heirs in the hope of life everlasting, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 97:3
Latin
Ps 97:3; 97:2
Vidérunt omnes fines terræ salutare Dei nostri: iubiláte Deo, omnis terra.
℣. Notum fecit Dominus salutare suum: ante conspéctum géntium revelávit iustitiam suam. Allelúia, allelúia.
℣. Dies sanctificátus illúxit nobis: veníte, gentes, et adoráte Dóminum: quia hódie descéndit lux magna super terram. Allelúia.
English
Ps 97: 3, 4, 2
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to God, all you lands.
℣. The Lord has made His salvation known: in the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice. Alleluia, alleluia.
℣. A sanctified day has shone upon us; come, you nations, and adore the Lord: for this day a great light has descended upon the earth. Alleluia.
GospelLuc 2:15-20
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Luc 2:15-20
In illo témpore: Pastóres loquebántur ad ínvicem: Transeámus usque Béthlehem, et videámus hoc verbum, quod factum est, quod Dóminus osténdit nobis. Et venérunt festinántes, et invenérunt Maríam, et Ioseph, et Infántem pósitum in præsépio. Vidéntes autem cognovérunt de verbo, quod dictum erat illis de Púero hoc. Et omnes, qui audiérunt, miráti sunt: et de his, quæ dicta erant a pastóribus ad ipsos. María autem conservábat ómnia verba hæc, cónferens in corde suo. Et revérsi sunt pastores, glorificántes et laudántes Deum in ómnibus, quæ audíerant et víderant, sicut dictum est ad illos.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 2:15-20
At that time, 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 marveled 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.
OffertoryPs 88:12
Latin
Ps 88:12; 88:15
Tui sunt cœli et tua est terra: orbem terrárum et plenitúdinem eius tu fundásti: iustítia et iudícium præparátio sedis tuæ.
English
Ps 88:12, 15
Yours are the heavens, and Yours is the earth; the world and its fullness You have founded. Justice and judgment are the foundation of Your throne.
Secret
Latin
Per eúndem Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionPs 97:3
Latin
Ps 97:3
Vidérunt omnes fines terræ salutáre Dei nostri.
English
Ps 97:3
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
Post Communion
Latin
Præsta, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut natus hódie Salvátor mundi, sicut divínæ nobis generatiónis est auctor; ita et immortalitátis sit ipse largítor:
Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that the Saviour of the world, born this day, Who is the author of our birth in godliness, may bestow on us immortal life.
Who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium