Christmas Night Mass. + Et lux in tenebris lucet... And the light shineth in darkness...

Dum medium silentium tenerent omnia,

et nox in suo cursu medium iter haberet...

While all things were in quiet silence,

and the night was in the midst of her course...

Omnipotens sermo tuus, Domine,

de coelis a regalibus sedibus venit. 

Thy Almighty Word, O Lord, leapt down from heaven

from Thy royal throne.

Silent night, holy night. 

The night continued to dominate us as Mass began,

our little candles bravely faced the darkness

until men with angels sang:

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

The continuous ringing of bells announced

the arrival of the Infant King of Heaven.

The chapel was lit up and the Collect thanked God:

 Who made this most holy night to shine forth

with the brightness of the true light.

 The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men.

announces the Subdeacon as he chants the Epistle.

 I bring you tidings of great joy.

The Holy Gospel is always proclaimed facing the darkness of the North.

Bethlehem ~ House of Bread.

The priest offers the spotless host.

Et verbum caro factum est.

And the Word was made flesh ~ and that flesh is made Bread.

I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven.

If any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever;

and the Bread that I shall give

is my flesh for the life of the world.

Amen, amen I say unto you:

Except you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood

you shall not have life in you.

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath life everlasting
and I will raise him up on the last day.
(Jn. 6: 51-55)

After Mass the image of the Infant was incensed
and the priest blessed each of us with the statue
of the baby Jesus.

Having received the blessing each person 
venerated the representation of the holy Child.

O Holy Night!  
O Holy Mass of Christ! ~ O Christmas!
O Holy House of Bread ~ Sweet Bethlehem so near us!
Sweet Jesus I love Thee, come into my heart!