I love midnight Mass! I grew up without much religion. My family didn’t go to church regularly-- I converted to Catholicicm when I was in college at a Sisters of Mercy women’s college. But on Christmas my family travelled to visit my grandparents, and they belonged to a church in their small town. We always had our Christmas with presents and all on Christmas Eve – our house was one of Santa’s first stops. And after Christmas Eve supper then presents and all, we would go to late church. It wasn’t Catholic, it was Methodist. But it was so special. I loved the darkened church and all the candles. I sang all the Christmas carols. My sister and I would wear a brand new Christmas outfit or coat that we had just opened that evening. I’m more of a night owl, so getting up for morning church was always hard for me. Church at night was a real treat. After I became Catholic I was always more a fan of the vigil Mass. And Midnight Christmas Mass just feels so much like Christmas and so special.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”  The candles in the dark church are showing the way. The baby in the manger is really God. The Christmas carols are songs of praise and wonder. What a wonderful special thing, to welcome God right here in our little church and to all sing at the wonder of it all.

What a strange circumstance this is. A poor family with no place to stay, travelling for government documentation, has a baby in a barn. This should seem the least auspicious, but it is really the most. He is “a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast.” And this is where it all happens, every year, at midnight Mass, we know that Jesus is born, a poor baby, who comes to save us all.