January 1
Octave of the Nativity
Feast shown for the year 2027; movable feasts can vary from year to year.
On January 1, the Church solemnly celebrates the Octave Day of the Nativity of Our Lord, marking the culmination of the eight-day period which began with Christmas. This sacred octave allows the faithful to remain in spiritual contemplation of the sublime mystery of the Incarnation and Christ's birth, highlighting the dignity and solemnity of the event. The day is set apart as a first-class feast, reflecting its profound significance in Christian salvation history—God becoming man for the redemption of humanity. Embedded within the Christmas Octave, the liturgy on this day retains a focus on the newborn Christ, inviting thanksgiving for the gift of the Savior, and deepening reflection on the mystery of the Word made flesh.
Historically, this date was also known as the Circumcision of Our Lord, commemorating the moment when Jesus, being born under the Law, was circumcised and given His holy Name on the eighth day according to Jewish custom. This aspect emphasizes both the true humanity of Christ and the initial shedding of His Precious Blood, foreshadowing the redemption He would accomplish fully on Calvary. The octave day thus brings together themes of divine revelation, obedience to the Law, and the inauguration of Christ’s redemptive mission, offering the faithful a time to renew devotion at the start of the year. The Church's liturgy on this day expresses profound gratitude for the dawn of salvation and entrusts the coming year to Christ, whose Nativity is the source of all grace.
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Liturgical texts of January 1, 2027
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
Deus, qui salútis ætérnæ, beátæ Maríæ virginitáte fecúnda, humáno generi præmia præstitísti: tríbue, quǽsumus; ut ipsam pro nobis intercédere sentiámus, per quam merúimus auctórem vitæ suscípere, Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum:
Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary, have bestowed upon mankind the reward of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech You, that we may enjoy the intercession of her through whom we have been found worthy to receive among us the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen
LessonTit 2:11-15
Latin
Léctio Epístolæ beati Pauli Apóstoli ad Titum
Tit 2:11-15
Caríssime: Appáruit grátia Dei Salvatóris nostri ómnibus homínibus, erúdiens nos, ut, abnegántes impietátem et sæculária desidéria, sóbrie et iuste et pie vivámus in hoc sǽculo, exspectántes beátam spem et advéntum glóriæ magni Dei et Salvatóris nostri Iesu Christi: qui dedit semetípsum pro nobis: ut nos redímeret ab omni iniquitáte, et mundáret sibi pópulum acceptábilem, sectatórem bonórum óperum. Hæc lóquere et exhortáre: in Christo Iesu, Dómino nostro.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to Titus
Titus 2:11-15
Beloved: The grace of God our Saviour has appeared to all men, instructing us, in order that, rejecting ungodliness and worldly lusts, we may live temperately and justly and piously in this world; looking for the blessed hope and glorious coming of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and cleanse for Himself an acceptable people, pursuing good works. Thus speak, and exhort, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualHeb 1:1-2
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.
Heb 1:1-2
Multifárie olim Deus loquens pátribus in Prophétis, novíssime diébus istis locútus est nobis in Fílio. 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.
Heb 1:1-2
℣. God, Who in diverse ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets; last of all, in these days, has spoken to us by His Son. Alleluia.
GospelLuc 2:21
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Luc 2:21
In illo témpore: Postquam consummáti sunt dies octo, ut circumciderétur Puer: vocátum est nomen eius Iesus, quod vocátum est ab Angelo, priúsquam in útero conciperétur.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 2:21
At that time, when eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given Him by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
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 Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Through 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
Hæc nos commúnio, Dómine, purget a crímine: et, intercedénte beáta Vírgine Dei Genetríce María, cœléstis remédii fáciat esse consórtes.
Per eúndem Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us from sin and, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, make us sharers of Your heavenly healing.
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.
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium