Christmas Midnight mass

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If only there were a midnight mass that was actually at midnight, I would go.
 
Yes! My parish has 4:00, 7:00 and 11:00. I love going so late at night. It’s so peaceful outside and just sings of God’s glory. Last year it was lightly snowing - just perfect.
 
I prefer going earlier as I don’t like getting home at night too late (I don’t drive yet) as long as I fulfil the obligation I won’t mind. I didn’t take communion yesterday as was a little tipsy (Christmas drinks ) and my conscience said absolutely no but i did today . My first Catholic Christmas 🙂
 
Surprisingly, my 3yo was fresh as a daisy all the way through it this year. My 5yo managed consciousness long enough to hear the choir sing Hark The Herald Angels Sing, then was conked out!
 
I remember walking to midnight Mass in the snow once. It was one of those in-between years when I was living alone, before I met my husband. No one else wanted to go to midnight Mass with me and I was in the choir, so I just walked there from my apartment, rather than sweep off my car. It was so peaceful and beautiful!
 
I’m getting ready to go. This’ll be my first midnight Mass. I wanted to go last year during RCIA, but family celebrations made that next to impossible. I’m hoping to arrive early enough to get a seat. I’ll probably pray the Rosary while I wait. Maybe the choir will impress me, but the choir at my new parish hasn’t really been remarkable so far.
 
Home from midnight Mass. "Twas wonderful. Merry Christmas y’all!
 
I just finished watching St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s w/ Cardinal Dolan on TV. Beautiful, albeit a packed house looked unusual for St. Patrick’s because there wasn’t any standing room as it’s a ticketed event. Usually there’s a million people milling about even during mass (and no bathrooms!)
 
There used to be a poster on this forum who used to dance with the New York City ballet.

They would perform the Nutcracker ballet and after that she and her fellow dancers would attend midnight mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
 
‘Our’ priest has recently been spread from 2 parishes to 3. Christmas ‘vigil’ Mass was 6.30 pm in my parish church. We are very short of priests throughout the diocese. It was nice to see the church still fills up for the Christmas service - reminded me of the days of faith and yore. So many empty pews for most other Masses.
 
We made it to midnight mass. The church was lovely and filled to capacity. There were some liturgical oddities I didn’t care for, but it was a beautiful service none the less. My mom is terribly sick with pancreatic cancer so I’m grateful she was able to make it through.
 
Yep, went to midnight Mass, as we do every year. I’m spoiled for choice when it comes to Mass at midnight, including one in the EF, but I let The Husband decide where we go because he only attends one Mass each year. He likes the cathedral so we went there (for the third year running).
 
Yes, at the abbey, at midnight. Beautiful Gregorian liturgy as usual. They also sing the office of Vigils (Matins) before Mass but alas didn’t go for that. A bit too long for my wife and daughter who came with me, and we also visited friends in the evening. But at least we got to Mass!
 
We went to Midnight Mass last night. It was beautiful! Merry Christmas everyone!
 
There is a lot I love about midnight mass and some things I don’t like. But the main problem for me is staying up that late after a long day with my family makes me feel awful the next day. It makes visiting with my wife’s family a challenge.
 
I can relate. While attending Mass at midnight is a family tradition since my childhood that I continued after I got married, when we visit The Husband’s family I don’t insist. His relatives have other long-standing traditions that take place on Christmas Eve from early evening through midnight, and I won’t go against that when we’re in their homes. Other Mass times exist, so I choose one of those.
 
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OraLabora said:
Yes, at the abbey, at midnight. Beautiful Gregorian liturgy as usual.
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Oh, I loved Christmas in the monastery!!! 😍

The sisters in the novitiate would walk the hallway at 11:30 pm singing Christmas carols to wake the other sisters for mass.

The community would meet in the refectory in silence before mass. The only light was from the Christmas tree in the corner. The sister sacristan would light the Christmas candle, and the abbess would carry the Christ Child into the chapel during the procession/opening hymn for mass. She would place the statue into the creche on the altar as we all went to our stalls while singing. I remember how beautiful the chapel looked with the lights on the Christmas trees all aglow.

After mass, the sisters would gather in the refectory for recreation. Each sister had a huge plate of cookies at her place at the table. There would also be chocolate bars and hot drinks. It would be about 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning before we got to bed, only to rise at 6:00 for Lauds and morning mass!

Honestly, after that experience (I was in the monastery for two Christmases), the parish midnight mass just seemed… ordinary.

I only go to midnight mass now if I’m needed to play the organ/piano. I find the other Christmas masses beautiful enough without draining me of much-needed sleep. 😊

A blessed and beautiful Christmas to each and every one of you and your loved ones!​

 
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Went last night at the Cathedral. I have a thing about going to “Midnight Mass” at Midnight. I don’t want to go at 7 pm or 9 pm or whatever. I understand why some churches have the Midnight Mass early, especially when weather might be bad or the neighborhood is not great, but to me, “midnight” means “midnight”. I don’t go every single year, it depends a lot on my holiday schedule and whether I’m in a place that offers the Mass at the time I want.

The Cathedral Midnight Mass was nice. It was full but you didn’t need a ticket to get in. I’m always amused that the local news sends trucks down to cover the Midnight Mass and Easter Vigil. “Newsflash, Catholics are at church!” Like the same thing hasn’t been happening here for the last 100 years.

I also went to a morning Mass today at my parish and was a bit annoyed that they used the readings from Midnight Mass instead of the ones designated for “Mass During the Day”, also the music was kind of blah for a 10 am Mass, so I probably wouldn’t go there again for a Christmas or Easter Mass during the day.

Next year I’d like to attend a TLM or a monastery Christmas Mass.
 
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