christmas - midnight mass

I am Catholic.  When I was young, for Christmas, we went to Midnight Mass as celebrated by our church. The preparation at home was fairly simple - we ate a lite supper and then Dad and I took a nap before we had to get dressed and leave for Mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Mass started at Midnight but Christmas Carols and seat-selecting and getting comfortable caused us to leave our house much earlier than we would for regular Mass on Sundays. I would say, if memory serves me right, we left the house around 10:30 p.m. for Midnight Mass!

Back in those days, we were joined at our Catholic Church by a lot of non-practicing Catholics, and just non-Catholics as well. I am sure the same occurs now. That is quite okay with me. It gives more people a chance to pray for themselves and others that need praying for.

The church service included all the same as the regular Sunday (or daily) Mass did - the readings, etc. but I remember some years we had live animals on the altar which were a treat! Mainly though I remember the Christmas Carols...and we seemed to sing them throughout the entire service. Christmas Carols are still so special to me. They were always very special to my mom as well.

After the service (Mass) was over, we would head back to the car in the parking lot - along with all the others - and hope for some snow to start falling. And then we would head back home. Once we got home we enjoyed some of those Christmas cookies that Mom baked - Pecan & Date Pinwheels, Almond Crescents, Chocolate Chips and Kolacky with a big glass of milk.  We would take one last glance of the wrapped presents and then go to bed for an early rise. It was so glorious!!

God Bless and Merry Christmas!! -- Peg

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" –- Bob Hope

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