Merry Third Day of Christmas (Feast of the Holy Family)

[Vouthon]

Merry Christmas!!!

Today is the 3rd celebratory day of the Octave* of Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.

Christmastide as a whole - in most ecclesiastical traditions - lasts until Twelfth Night (5th January) on the feast of the Epiphany, when decorations and tree are traditionally taken down.

(*An Octave is a period of eight days wherein a feast of the Church is celebrated for that whole period as though it were all the same day. e.g. some of the prayers and antiphons this morning at Mass say, “Today is born our saviour, Christ the Lord.”)

Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Family

Heavenly Father,

Inspired by the Holy Family,

we pray that our own families may work to live in faith and simplicity,

finding joy in being together and welcoming others.

Amen.
​

Now for the Carol:

"On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree."

 

[Cooky]

Merry Christmas!!!

Today is the 3rd feasting day of the Octave of Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.

Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Family

Heavenly Father,

Inspired by the Holy Family,

we pray that our own families may work to live in faith and simplicity,

finding joy in being together and welcoming others.

Amen.
​

Now for the Carol:

"On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree."

View attachment 46411

It's a great message. I like the "welcoming others" part... I'm really feeling it.

 

[Vouthon]

The gospel reading for today's feast within the Christmas Octave:

Gospel

LUKE 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
They took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.​