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| For a child is born to us, a son is given us. . . |
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The word for Christmas is derived from the Old English Cristes Maesse, meaning the Mass of Christ, which was first used around 1038, later modified in 1131 to Cristes-messe. In Dutch it is Kerst-misse, in Latin Dies Natalis, from which comes the French Noël, and Italian Il natale; in German Weihnachtsfest. Christmas is the culmination of the penitential season of Advent and the reality of God becoming man in the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It is a time of joy and fulfillment in the realization of the mystery of the incarnation of God, who came to Earth to became one of us. |
Prayer on Christmas Day: " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -- Jn 1:1-18 |
 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |
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St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Parish, 1175 Overlook Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45238, Tel: (513) 921-9200 • Fax: (513) 921-0307 |
