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CALENDAR of the SAINTS
25 December A.D. 2005
Saint Alburga of Wilton
Matron of a noble Roman family. Married to a pagan. Spiritual student of Saint Chrysogonus. Martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian c.304 at Sirmium, Dalmatia; relics at Istanbul, Turkey (former Constantinople) . Her name is commemorated in the second Mass of Christmas and the first eucharistic prayer. Saint Anastasia of Sirmium >
Christmas
(Old English: Cristes Maesse, Christ's Mass) (Feast of the Nativity) 25 December, 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 c.300 to observe it on 25 December, though there is no certainty that Our Lord was born on that day. Priests have the privilege of saying three Masses, at midnight, daybreak, and morning. This was originally reserved to the pope 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 calends. 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.
Saint Eugenia of Rome
Young noblewoman. Converted by and martyred by beheading with Hyacinth and Protus during Valerians' persecution. She wrote biography entitled "Acta" before her death. Saint Fulk of Toulouse Saint Jacopone da Todi Saintly Martyrs of Nicomedia
20,000 of the faithful burned alive in on Christmas Day c.303 near the basilica of Nicomedia by order of Diocletian. Saint Matthew of Albano Saint Michael Nakashima
Jesuit. Martyred for hiding and assisting priests and missionaries. Scalded to death in the hot springs at Mount Ungen, Shimabara, Japan in 1628 Saint Nera Saint Romulus
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