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As the world begins to celebrate the birth of Christ, many Christians will attend vigil or midnight Masses tonight. Where did the tradition of the Christmas Midnight Mass begin?
Back in the 380s, a Christian woman named Egeria wrote down the Christian customs of Jerusalem she experienced. She wrote of Christians beginning the tradition of celebrating the birth of Christ (back then it was celebrated on January 6) with a midnight vigil in Bethlehem followed by a torchlight procession to Jerusalem. Around 432, Pope Sixtus III had a replica of the chapel of Bethlehem cave where Jesus was born made in the basilica of St. Mary Major. He then began the celebration of the midnight Christmas Mass in this chapel.
Back in the 380s, a Christian woman named Egeria wrote down the Christian customs of Jerusalem she experienced. She wrote of Christians beginning the tradition of celebrating the birth of Christ (back then it was celebrated on January 6) with a midnight vigil in Bethlehem followed by a torchlight procession to Jerusalem. Around 432, Pope Sixtus III had a replica of the chapel of Bethlehem cave where Jesus was born made in the basilica of St. Mary Major. He then began the celebration of the midnight Christmas Mass in this chapel.
This concludes our Advent daily emails. We hope you had a very blessed Advent season and that you experience true joy this Christmas. Have a very Merry Christmas!