11 DECEMBER 2024
I am excited to announce that this Christmas, and into the new year, we have some new worship offerings. The first is on Wednesday, December 18, when we will celebrate the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a candlelight mass at 6:00 pm. December 18 is exactly one week before Christmas, forming a pre-octave leading up to the Nativity. These days are also called the Greater Ferias of Advent, and it is on December 17 at Vespers that the famous O Antiphons adorning the Magnificat begin. Check out hymn 56 in the Hymnal 1982 (Veni, veni, Emmanuel) where you may read all of these O Antiphons as prescribed for December 17-23.
Celebrating a mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary with candlelight in the darkness of Advent is a time-honored tradition. In many cultures this mass happens early in the morning, with families walking to the church before sunrise. This mass is also called the Rorate Mass due to the Introit. The traditional Latin Introit states, "Rorate caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum." Translated the text is "Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just." As the Most High God overshadows Mary the New Ark, the Messiah descends as mist from above.
The new worship offering this Christmas is the Latin Vigil Mass on December 24 at 3:00 pm. First Vespers of the Nativity will be chanted at 2:30 pm. The Latin Vigil Mass is the result of our parish Latin Class. Much of the mass will be chanted in Latin, however the scripture readings will be in English. There will be a few carols in English, and one carol in Latin. The music consists mostly of chant, and incense will be offered. The leaflet is finished, and it features Latin and English side-by-side, so one may still worship without a proficiency in Latin (or English).
Some of us have lamented that our Prayer Book does not include the historic scripture readings for the Vigil Mass of the Nativity. In the Prayer Book you will find three sets of readings for the Christmas masses (p. 911). The first is traditionally celebrated in the night, the second is traditionally celebrated at dawn, and the third, featuring the Prologue of John's Gospel, is celebrated on the day. However, there is an additional set of readings that is offered for earlier on Christmas Eve, and this option includes the birth narrative from the Gospel of Matthew. One can even choose to hear the entire genealogy from Matthew for the Gospel at this mass (Matthew 1:1-25), and this is what we have chosen.
If you do come to the Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve, please note that this mass will not have a homily, and the music will not include the organ. The Midnight Mass is still our primary Christmas mass, and the Christmas Day Mass is number two. Both the Midnight and Christmas Day Masses will have organ, choir, and a homily. Receptions have been organized for after the Vigil Mass and the Christmas Day Mass. On Christmas Day some of us will chant Second Vespers of the Nativity at 1:00 pm. There will be enough time to grab some light refreshment in the Parish Hall after the Christmas Day Mass before we begin Second Vespers, which lasts about twenty minutes. As for the days of the Octave of Christmas, mass will continue every day, with a Latin Chant Mass on New Year's Day.
Looking to the Epiphany, this year we will celebrate for the first time the traditional Epiphany Blessing of Water and Vigil Mass on Saturday, January 4 at 11:00 am, and on the next day, Sunday, January 5, we will observe the feast of the Epiphany. As for the fortieth day after Christmas, Candlemas, February 2, falls on a Sunday in 2025, a rare treat.
But before we launch Christmas, we have two remaining Advent Sundays. This Sunday after the High Mass, the choir will sing carols for the Aloha Hour, and Christmas flower and music memorials and thanksgivings are due. This Sunday is also our last Vespers and Benediction of the year. In 2025, Vespers and Benediction will move to Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm beginning on January 8.
Finally, on Saturday, December 21, you are invited to join Christmas Caroling on Kapahulu. Parishioners, including choir members, will perform carols at various spots for the patrons of Kapahulu Avenue. We will meet at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall before setting out into the neighborhood. You are welcome to join us.
Father Paul Lillie +
