The Misa del Gallo and Christmas Readings

Below is an illustration of how the infancy narratives from Matthew and Luke have been distributed through out the days leading to the Feast of Christmas. The readings for December 17-24 have been fixed; this will be affected in the cases when a Sunday (usually the 4th Sunday of Advent) falls within these days. In that case, the Sunday readings prevail. For the Church in the Philippines where the Misa del Gallo begins on the 16th of December, the readings for that day follows the order found in the 3rd week of Advent.

Note that because of the particular way that the Genealogy in Matthew begins the series of readings, the regal character of Jesus' birth is emphasized. The repetition of the number "14" in the genealogy cries out the letters daleth (4), wav (6), daleth (4) which are the consonants for the name "David" (or Dod, "Beloved") Matthew also presents Jesus as the New Israel, but this is seen in the episode of the Escape to Egypt which is read during the feast of the Holy Family (Year A). On account of the feast, however, the role of Joseph as the "Custos redemptoris" is given more emphasis.

From December 19-24, we find a series of annunciations beginning with the angelic announcements to the future father of the precursor and the future mother of the redeemer. This is followed by announcements made by human beings to other human beings -- that of Mary to Elizabeth and of Zecharias to his son John. The pattern angel --> human --> human will be repeated on the birthday of Jesus where a host of angels announce the good news to shepherds and the shepherds go to Mary to tell her about the "word".

From December 24-25, the Liturgy foresees several Masses each having their own characteristics. December 24 has the day mass (falling in the series of December 17-24) and a Mass that is celebrated right after the Evening Prayer I for Christmas. It is called a Vigil Mass. This is to be distinguished from the Midnight Mass, the first of the three Christmas masses.

December 25 has three masses: the Midnight Mass, the Dawn Mass and the Christmas Day Mass. (For historical information about these three masses, see this page.)