Liturgical changes planned for Vatican Christmas celebration
December 22, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI will make some changes in the liturgical celebrations of the Christmas season, to emphasize "the centrality of adoration in the life of the Church," the Vatican's chief liturgist has revealed. Prior to the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the Christmas Proclamation will be sung, as indicated in the Roman Martyrology. For his midday Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day the Pontiff will not wear his miter and cope, because the blessing "is not connected to a particular liturgical rite." There will be Eucharistic Adoration after Vespers on December 31. And on the feast of the Lord's Baptism the Pope will celebrate Mass ad orientem in this Sistine Chapel, as he did last year.
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