Schedule of Pope's Advent, Christmas liturgies released
by Elise Harris
.- The Vatican has issued the
calendar of all liturgical celebrations that Pope Francis is slated to preside
over during the Advent and Christmas seasons, extending through January of
2014.
Pope
Francis opened the liturgical new year by celebrating first Vespers on
Saturday, Nov. 30 inside of St. Peter’s Basilica in anticipation of the First
Sunday of Advent.
During
this celebration, the Pope gave a special address to university students,
encouraging the youth to go against the tide of secular culture.
The next
day, Dec. 1, the pontiff made a pastoral visit to the Roman parish of “San
Cirillo Alessandrino,” Saint Cyril of Alexandria, where he celebrated Mass for
the First Sunday of Advent at 6 p.m., administering the Sacrament of
Confirmation to youths present and emphasizing to parishioners that life is a
journey of encounter with Christ.
On Sunday
Dec. 8 in honor of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, the Pope will pay homage to Mary Immaculate at 4 p.m. in Rome’s
Piazza di Spagna.
Tuesday
Dec. 24, Pope Francis will celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
with Midnight Mass, which will be held at 9:30 p.m. in the Papal Chapel of the
Vatican Basilica.
Christmas
day, Wednesday Dec. 25, the pontiff will honor the Solemnity of the Nativity of
the Lord with a special “Urbi et Orbi” blessing at 12 p.m. from the central
loggia of the Vatican Basilica.
The “Urbi
et Orbi” is a special blessing which including a papal address and an Apostolic
Blessing given to the city of Rome and to the entire world on certain
significant occasions in the Church.
On Tuesday
Dec. 31, Pope Francis will celebrate the first Vespers and “Te Deum” at 5 p.m.
in the Vatican Basilica for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, offering
special thanksgiving for the past year.
In
January, the Pope will honor the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and 47th World
Day of Peace, both occuring on the first of the month, with Mass in the Vatican
Basilica at 10 a.m.
For the
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord on Monday Jan. 6, the pontiff will
celebrate Mass in the Vatican Basilica at 10 a.m.
Pope
Francis will bring his Christmas celebrations to a close on Sunday Jan. 12 for
First Sunday after the Epiphany, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, by
offering a special Mass, and baptizing newborns in the Sistine Chapel at 9:45
a.m.
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