Prior to the Sung High Mass for the Nativity of Our Lord we will be singing Christmas Carols
This will be at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Rochester, MN
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Sunday December 24th, 2017 // St. Francis of Assisi
Christmas Carols at 11:30 PM
Followed by a Sung High Mass at Midnight (12:00AM, Dec. 25th)
Please enjoy below an excerpt from The Liturgical Year by the very Rev. Dom Prosper Guéranger
THE HOUR BEFORE THE MIDNIGHT SERVICE
Meanwhile, till it was time for Mass, their conversation was upon the Mystery of this much-loved Night. They compassionated the Blessed Mother and the sweet Babe, exposed to the inclemency of wintry weather, and with no other shelter than that of a wretched stable. Then, too, there were the Christmas Carols, in the practise of which they had spent many a pleasant evening of Advent. The whole soul was evidently in these dear old melodies, and many a tear would fall as the song went on to tell how the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, and declared to her that she was to be Mother of the Most High God; how Mary and Joseph were worn with fatigue, going from street to street in Bethlehem, trying to find a lodging, and no one would take them in; how they were obliged to shelter in a stable, and how the Divine Child was born in it; how the loveliness of the Babe in his little crib was above all the beauty of the Angels; how the Shepherds went to see him, and took their humble gifts, and played their rude music, and adored him in the faith of their simple hearts. And thus they spent the happy Eve, passing from conversation to song, and from one song to another, and all was on Mary or Jesus, Joseph or Bethlehem. Cares of life were forgotten, troubles were gone, melancholy was a sin; but it was time to leave; the village clock had just gone eleven; and of the happy group, there was a little one who had been too young the other years, and this was his first Midnight Mass. There was no brighter face in the procession than his. Would he ever forget that beautiful Night!
For the Music for the Christmas Carols, please click the box below
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1114 3rd St SE, Rochester, MN 55904