So when should you open the Christmas gifts? Christmas Eve?  Christmas Day?  Before Christmas Mass or after Christmas Mass?

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.

Families have traditions, and Christmas traditions are among the most enduring.  Growing up in my family, we opened the bonanza of Christmas gifts on Christmas morning, but only after we had gone to Mass and had Christmas breakfast, which was extraordinary with bacon and eggs and ham and strudel and grapefruit and coffee and champagne and Milk Duds.

So, if you open the gifts after Mass, if you’re a kid, your prayers at Mass will be prayers of petition: please, please, please, but if you open your gifts before Mass, your prayers at Mass will be prayers of thanksgiving: thank you, thank you, thank you! It works both ways.

So when should you open the Christmas gifts? Christmas Eve?&nbsp; Christmas Day?&nbsp; Before Christmas Mass or after Christmas Mass?
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
Families have traditions, and Christmas traditions are among the most enduring.&nbsp; Growing up in my family, we opened the bonanza of Christmas gifts on Christmas morning, but only after we had gone to Mass and had Christmas breakfast, which was extraordinary with bacon and eggs and ham and strudel and grapefruit and coffee and champagne and Milk Duds.
So, if you open the gifts after Mass, if you&rsquo;re a kid, your prayers at Mass will be prayers of petition: please, please, please, but if you open your gifts before Mass, your prayers at Mass will be prayers of thanksgiving: thank you, thank you, thank you! It works both ways.

Back by popular demand! Please enjoy Father Rocky's Advent Inspirations!

Back by popular demand! Please enjoy Father Rocky's Advent Inspirations!

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Receive Advent Inspirations in your email inbox each morning of Advent. It's a great way to prepare your heart for Christmas.

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Advent Inspirations 2025

Welcome to Advent Inspirations! You'll get a one-minute Advent-themed reflection from Father Rocky, each day of Advent. You can subscribe for free at relevantradio.com/advent.

Welcome to Advent Inspirations! You'll get a one-minute Advent-themed reflection from Father Rocky, each day of Advent. You can subscribe for free at relevantradio.com/advent.

Advent Inspirations

So When Should You Open Christmas Gifts?

I think this is really cool, and I didn’t know about it until recently.  It was a treasure in storage for fifty years, but now it’s on display.

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.

It’s the Christmas proclamation, from the Roman Martyrology, and you just might hear it proclaimed before Midnight Mass on Christmas. It goes like this:

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Twenty-fifth Day of December,

when ages beyond number had run their course

from the creation of the world,

when God in the beginning created heaven and earth,

and formed man in his own likeness;

when century upon century had passed

since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood,

as a sign of covenant and peace;

in the twenty-first century since Abraham, our father in faith,

came out of Ur of the Chaldees;

in the thirteenth century since the People of Israel were led by Moses

in the Exodus from Egypt;

around the thousandth year since David was anointed King;

in the sixty-fifth week of the prophecy of Daniel;

in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;

in the year seven hundred and fifty-two

since the foundation of the City of Rome;

in the forty-second year of the reign of Caesar Octavian Augustus,

the whole world being at peace,

JESUS CHRIST, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,

desiring to consecrate the world by his most loving presence,

was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

and when nine months had passed since his conception,

was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judah,

and was made man:

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

I think this is really cool, and I didn&rsquo;t know about it until recently.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was a treasure in storage for fifty years, but now it&rsquo;s on display.
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
It&rsquo;s the Christmas proclamation, from the Roman Martyrology, and you just might hear it proclaimed before Midnight Mass on Christmas. It goes like this:
The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
The Twenty-fifth Day of December,
when ages beyond number had run their course
from the creation of the world,
when God in the beginning created heaven and earth,
and formed man in his own likeness;
when century upon century had passed
since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood,
as a sign of covenant and peace;
in the twenty-first century since Abraham, our father in faith,
came out of Ur of the Chaldees;
in the thirteenth century since the People of Israel were led by Moses
in the Exodus from Egypt;
around the thousandth year since David was anointed King;
in the sixty-fifth week of the prophecy of Daniel;
in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;
in the year seven hundred and fifty-two
since the foundation of the City of Rome;
in the forty-second year of the reign of Caesar Octavian Augustus,
the whole world being at peace,
JESUS CHRIST, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,
desiring to consecrate the world by his most loving presence,
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and when nine months had passed since his conception,
was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judah,
and was made man:
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

The Nativity of Our Lord

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.

It is already December 23 and tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  Let’s remember that Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ some two thousand years ago in Bethlehem.  After all of the gifts and decorations and parties and food and treats and travels and activities these days, let’s remember our religion is all about a person, Jesus Christ.

It’s amazing when you think about it.  God took on human nature and came to us, to teach us and to redeem us.  And yet it’s true, whether you or I believe it or not.

I hope in these Christmas holidays you find some time for quiet reflection in front of the nativity scene in your home or your parish Church, or quietly in your room and in your imagination.  What comes to mind now are the words of St. Josemaria:  “May you seek Christ.  May you find Christ.  May you love Christ.”

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
It is already December 23 and tomorrow is Christmas Eve.&nbsp; Let&rsquo;s remember that Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ some two thousand years ago in Bethlehem.&nbsp; After all of the gifts and decorations and parties and food and treats and travels and activities these days, let&rsquo;s remember our religion is all about a person, Jesus Christ.
It&rsquo;s amazing when you think about it.&nbsp; God took on human nature and came to us, to teach us and to redeem us.&nbsp; And yet it&rsquo;s true, whether you or I believe it or not.
I hope in these Christmas holidays you find some time for quiet reflection in front of the nativity scene in your home or your parish Church, or quietly in your room and in your imagination.&nbsp; What comes to mind now are the words of St. Josemaria:&nbsp; &ldquo;May you seek Christ.&nbsp; May you find Christ.&nbsp; May you love Christ.&rdquo;

Your Christmas Reminder

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Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.

I bet most of you are traveling for Christmas - or have family and friends who’re braving the busy roads for it!  I know I’m excited to see who strolls in when, who frosts the best Christmas cookies and who has the wackiest sweater on.

But what I’m really excited for is the time with my family, preparing for Christmas Day. All that we do in these days is surrounded by the endless joy of Christ’s birth. In this way, we get to imitate the Holy Family - and let’s be sure to use Mary and Joseph’s example to really welcome Christ as a family. Time spent together, praying, laughing, and celebrating - that’s the best way to keep Christ at the center of Christmas.

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
I bet most of you are traveling for Christmas - or have family and friends who’re braving the busy roads for it!  I know I’m excited to see who strolls in when, who frosts the best Christmas cookies and who has the wackiest sweater on.
But what I’m really excited for is the time with my family, preparing for Christmas Day. All that we do in these days is surrounded by the endless joy of Christ’s birth. In this way, we get to imitate the Holy Family - and let’s be sure to use Mary and Joseph’s example to really welcome Christ as a family. Time spent together, praying, laughing, and celebrating - that’s the best way to keep Christ at the center of Christmas.

So When Should You Open Christmas Gifts?

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