Q: At my parish in Australia, I have been asked to justify having a night Mass on Christmas Eve (9.30 pm not midnight, given parish demographics). This night time Mass attracts only small numbers. This does not overly concern me, as tiring as it will be to preside at 5 masses across 16 hours in four churches. Other parish Masses are at 5 pm Christmas Eve (family Mass) and on Christmas morning (including a popular beachside Mass). I believe it is important to have a night time Mass, and would like clear theological and liturgical reasons to support my conviction, other than tradition, and the atmospherics associated with a night Mass in a small intimate 130 year old church located in a stunning natural setting.
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A: The Catholic Church has a long tradition of celebrating a Mass during the night for Christmas. It probably was related to breaking the fast of Christmas Eve at the earliest possible moment of celebration. I like to think it fulfills the prophecy from Wisdom 18:14-15a: “
For when peaceful stillness encompassed everything and the night in its swift course was half spent, Your all-powerful word from heaven’s royal throne leapt.”