If there ever is a year in which an argument could be made to do without a Vigil Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Eve) and begin the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord with a Midnight Mass it would be this year when Christmas Day is on Monday. On sunday, December 24, the Church celebrates the 4th Sunday of Advent. The last Sunday of Advent is the proximate (very near) preparation for the Solemnity of the Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. the Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent this year is what has come to be known as the Annunciation to Mary through the Angel Gabriel. That gives us much to reflect upon (for a short time) as we will soon "fast forward" (as early as that Sunday afternoon) to readings of the Masses of the Nativity of the Lord and the events surrounding his birth, starting with the Midnight Mass and continuing through the Mass at Dawn and Mass During the Day on December 25. That leaves the Vigil Mass of the Nativity of the Lord which will occur in some parishes (like ours) on the evening of December 24. Like the Easter Vigil (which has more than a few differences from the Easter Sunday Masses). The Christmas Vigil Mass has this as the Entrance Antiphon: "Today you will know that the Lord will come, and he will save us, AND IN THE MORNING you will see his glory." The church gives us the option of proclaiming some Old Testament readings (like we do at the Easter Vigil) before the Gloria is sung, followed by the opening prayer and the readings for the Vigil Mass which focus mostly on God's plan of salvation that originated all the way back to Abraham and continued through the history of our Jewish ancestors in faith up to the time that Jesus, the Messiah, is born. The Gospel of that Mass,, Matthew 1:1-25 has a long geneaologyof Jesus and ends with the Annunciation to Joseph in a dream with only a brief reference to Jesus's bith in verse 25: "He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus." (Mth 1:25). One might leave the Vigil Mass of the Nativity (that begins with an Advent song in place of the "Entrance Antiphon" which I quoted above) questioning why it was not a full Christmas Mass. Hopefully, it's only those who didn't read ;and reflect on this pastor's column who will think or say that. By the way, I wrote this column so early before Christmas and even before Advent, so it will give everyone plenty of time to think and pray before making plans for which Masses you will attend, one for the 4th Sunday of Advent (December 23 at 4:00 p.m. or December 24 at 8:00 and 10:0 a.m. AND for the Nativity of the Lord (December 24 at 4:00 p.m. or Midnight Mass and 10:00 a.m. on Christmas Day). Please pray for me and all priests, deeacons and liturgical ministers who will be challenged and blessed to celebrate multiple Masses in a short period of time!