Christmas

Christmas is the feast of the Nativity — the birth of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary and was born in Bethlehem (CCC 1171). It is one of the principal solemnities of the liturgical year, celebrated on December 25, commemorating the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity.

The Mystery of Christmas

The Catechism describes Christmas as the mystery of the "marvelous exchange": O marvelous exchange! Man's Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity (CCC 526). Christmas is not merely the birthday of a historical figure — it is the feast of the Incarnation, the moment when eternity entered time.

Christmas and the Liturgical Year

Christmas concludes the Advent season of waiting and opens the Christmas season, which extends through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The season includes theologically rich feasts: the Solemnity of Mary on January 1, the Epiphany (the visit of the Magi, celebrating the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles), and the Holy Family (CCC 528, 1171).

Christmas and the Christian Life

The Catechism notes that no one — whether shepherd or wise man — can approach God except by kneeling before the manger at Bethlehem and adoring him hidden in the weakness of a newborn child (CCC 563). Christmas calls the faithful to the same adoring poverty of spirit: to receive Christ as Lord by becoming small before him.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Christmas a holy day of obligation? Yes. The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (December 25) is a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church, on which the faithful are required to attend Mass (CCC 2177).