The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day! and Memorials of the Saints – 25 December

The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day!
Celebration of the Anniversary of the Birth of Our Lord. In the earliest days of the Church there was no such Feast, the Saviour’s Birth was commemorated with the Epiphany by the Greek and other Eastern Churches. First mention of the Feast, then kept on 20 May, was made by Clement of Alexandria c 200. The Latin Church began in c 300 to observe it on 25 December, though there is no certainty that Our Lord was born on that day.
Today, Priests have the privilege of saying three Masses, at midnight, daybreak and morning. This was originally reserved to the Holy Father alone – beginning about the 4th century he celebrated a midnight Mass in the Lateran Basilica (in which according to tradition, the manger of Bethlehem is preserved), a second in the Church of Saint Anastasia, whose Feast comes on 25 December and a third at the Vatican Basilica.
Many peculiar customs of the day are the outcome of the pagan celebrations of the January calendar. The Christmas tree, of which the first known mention was made in 1605 at Strasbourg, was introduced into France and England in 1840.
The Feast is a Holy Day of Obligation, preceded by the preparatory season of Advent and by a special Vigil – should it fall on a Friday it abrogates the law of abstinence. Of course, Christmas attracts an Octave, when this wonderful Mystery and Miracle is celebrated for eight days.
https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/25/the-solemnity-of-the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-25-december-2/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/25/the-solemnity-of-the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-25-december/
AND:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/12/25/25-december-the-solemnity-of-the-birth-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-2/

St Adalsindis of Hamay
St Alburga of Wilton
St Anastasia of Sirmium

Bl Artale
St Basilée of the Via Latina

Blessed Bentivoglio de Bonis OFM (1188-1232) Confessor, Priest and Friar of the Friars’ Minor of St Francis, Noted preachers, Miracle worker and visionary. One of Saint Francis of Assisi’s earliest disciples and one of first Franciscans.
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/25/saint-of-the-day-25-december-blessed-bentivoglio-de-bonis-ofm-1188-1232-confessor-priest/

Bl Diego de Aro
St Eugenia of Rome
St Fulk of Toulouse (c1155-1231) Bishop

Blessed Jacopone da Todi OFM (1230-1306) Priest and Friar of the Order of the Friars Minor, Author of the “Stabat Mater,” Confessor, Hymnist, Poet, Musician, Mystic, Lawyer. He is the Author of the famous Latin Hymn, The Stabat Mater among others.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/25/saint-of-the-day-25-december-blessed-jacopone-da-todi-ofm-1230-1306/

St Jovin of the Via Latina
Bl Matthew of Albano
Bl Michael Nakashima Saburoemon
Bl Nera

Blessed Peter the Venerable (c1092–1156) The Eighth Abbot of Cluny, Reformer, Scholar and Writer, Poet. He was Beatified in 1862 by Pope Pius IX.
About Blessed Peter:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/25/saint-of-the-day-25-december-blessed-peter-the-venerable-c%e2%80%891092-1156/

St Romulus of Berry