[Magdalen] Christmas musings...

[Roger Stokes]

I would certainly put the transition later than noon local time. If 
there is a mid-afternoon mass normally then that will be "of the day", 
Advent 4 in this case. Anticipatorey masses of the Eve would probably 
not be until at least 4 o'clock, and then only exceptionally. The parish 
priest may well want an early evening or late afternoon mass aimed at 
attracting children and families at 5 or 6 so the children can be put to 
bed at a reasonable time afterwards. In the parish I always liked to 
start the Christmas season with a family-orientated service at 4.30 or 5.

This side of the pond many RC churches have a period of carol-singing 
before the Midnight Mass. I would suggest waiting until September and 
then asking the priest what he plans for the Christmas season.

Roger


On 24/07/2017 22:38, Jay Weigel wrote:
> I thought Christmas Eve would not begin until sundown, in the classic
> Jewish sense. Silly me!
>
> On Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 5:27 PM, Simon Kershaw <simon at kershaw.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> The "classic" answer is that it's Advent 4 until 12 noon, and Christmas
>> Eve after 12 noon.
>>
>> So morning services should be Advent 4 and the afternoon services for
>> Christmas Eve.
>>
>> simon
>>
>> --
>> Simon Kershaw
>> simon at kershaw.org.uk
>> Saint Ives, Cambridgeshire
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>> On 24 Jul 2017, at 19:02, sheila ketler via Magdalen <
>> magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
>>> Yes everyone... I know I am looking at this early but I looked at the
>> calendar and this year both Advent 4 and Christmas Eve are on the same
>> Sunday...I wonder how the services are going to go with that??? as we do
>> two morning Masses one-midafternoon Mass...Of course Christmas Eve will
>> have a midnight Mass...
>>> This will be an interesting year to be sure... and I can't remember the
>> last time this went on...
>>> Anyone have any ideas on this??
>>> Sheila
>>