The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season known as of Advent and are represented by the liturgical color purple—a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart. The remaining days of December mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The liturgical color changes to white or gold — a symbol of joy, purity, and innocence.
The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of December 2024
For Pilgrims of Hope We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthens our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.
Focus of the Liturgy
The Gospels for the four Sundays in December 2024 are taken from St. Luke, Year C in the Lectionary Cycle. The Weekday readings are from Year I.
| December 1st First Sunday of Advent |
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36: Jesus warns that your redemption is at hand. |
| December 8th Second Sunday of Advent |
Luke 3:1-6: All flesh shall see the salvation of God. |
| December 15th Third Sunday of Advent |
Luke 3:10-18: What should we do? |
| December 22nd Fourth Sunday of Advent |
Luke 1:39-45, And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? |
| December 25th Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord |
Vigil: Matthew 1:1-25: The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David Mass During the Night: Luke 2:1-14: Today a Savior has been born for you. Mass at Dawn: Luke 2:15-20: The shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the infant. Mass During the Day: John 1:1-18: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. |
| December 29th Feast of the Holy Family |
Luke 2:41-52: His parents found Jesus sitting in the midst of the teachers. |
Highlights of the Month
The liturgy of Advent focuses on remembering Christ's first coming at Bethlehem which then directs our mind to Christ's Second Coming at the end of time. The readings focus on the people of the Old Testament awaiting the Messiah, John the Baptist, heralding the way for Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary and her maternal preparations.
Christmastide begins with the First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of Christmas on December 24th and ends on the Sunday after Epiphany. The Solemnity of Epiphany is transferred to January 5 in the United States in 2025. Christmas and Easter are the only solemnities with octaves attached in the current calendar. The Christmas Octave differs from Easter in that it includes some major and minor feasts: St. Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26), St. John the Evangelist (December 27), the Holy Innocents (December 28), St. Thomas Becket (December 29) and St. Sylvester I (December 31). The octave day is on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
From catholicculture.org
