The Proclamation of The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the Roman Martyrology

Source: cappelagregorianowordpress.com

The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ,, is a chant sung before the Midnight Mass for Christmas . The long text is a timeline, in which each verse represents the years from an historical event, either secular or religious, until the birth of Jesus Christ, and the number of years – expressed in centuries or years – decreases until the day of the first Christmas.

The announcement of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord from the Roman Martyrology draws upon Sacred Scripture to declare in a formal way the birth of Christ. It begins with creation and relates the birth of the Lord to the major events and personages of sacred and secular history. The particular events contained in the announcement help pastorally to situate the birth of Jesus in the context of salvation history.

Originating from the Roman Martyrology, traditionally read during the hour of Prime, the proclamation places the birth of Christ “within the context of salvation history.” Prime was suppressed as part of the liturgical reforms following Vatican II, but Pope John Paul II restored the usage of the Proclamation during the 1980 Papal Christmas Midnight Mass. Since then, many parishes re-instituted the Proclamation as well.

After the greeting of the Mass, the celebrant or another minister may briefly introduce the Mass and The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ which follows, using these or similar words.

“Throughout the season of Advent, the Church has reflected on God’s promises, so often spoken by the prophets, to send a savior to the people of Israel who would be Emmanuel, that is, God with us. In the fullness of time those promises were fulfilled. With hearts full of joy let us listen to the proclamation of our Savior’s birth.The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Twenty-fifth Day of December,

when ages beyond number had run their course
from the creation of the world,

when God in the beginning created heaven and earth,
and formed man in his own likeness;

when century upon century had passed
since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood,
as a sign of covenant and peace;

in the twenty-first century since Abraham, our father in faith,
came out of Ur of the Chaldees;

in the thirteenth century since the People of Israel were led by Moses
in the Exodus from Egypt;

around the thousandth year since David was anointed King;

in the sixty-fifth week of the prophecy of Daniel;

in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;

in the year seven hundred and fifty-two
since the foundation of the City of Rome;

in the forty-second year of the reign of Caesar Octavian Augustus,
the whole world being at peace,

JESUS CHRIST, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to consecrate the world by his most loving presence,
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and when nine months had passed since his conception,
was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judah,
and was made man:

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

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2 Comments
  • Charles Pottie-Pate
    Posted at 13:50h, 24 December Reply

    I sang the chant version of this Proclamation many years ago in the village of Canso. It is to Christmas what the Exsultet proclamation is to the Easter feast.
    ……thanks for bringing it to the attention of our readers.

  • Peter Bisson
    Posted at 15:07h, 24 December Reply

    Thank you John (Admin)! And Merry Christmas!

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