The Catholic calendar has several ways to divide the Christmas season. The Church’s Western liturgical tradition sees Christmas as an octave, an eight-day celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The ...
Sunday, Jan. 1, is the Octave Day of Christmas, Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Mass readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21. This ...