How do we know Jesus was born on December 25th?

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

Everyone knows that Christ was born on Christmas Day, December 25th, but how do we know that? That’s an important and fascinating question, and I’ve spent the past twenty years searching for the answer, reading just about everything on the subject. We know for sure that Mary and Joseph knew the day Jesus was born because they were there. I am sure they told Jesus the day he was born just as our parents told us, and the Apostles would have learned that from Mary or Jesus or both.

But the first time December 25th shows up in any written record is 350 AD, so either written records were lost for 300 years, or that important information was passed on by word of mouth by the early Christians. It is also very fitting that Jesus Christ was born on the day the Ancient Romans regarded as the Winter Solstice (although by that time the calendar was off by four days) because with the Winter Solstice the days start getting longer and more light comes into the world.

How do we know Jesus was born on December 25th?
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
Everyone knows that Christ was born on Christmas Day, December 25th, but how do we know that? That’s an important and fascinating question, and I’ve spent the past twenty years searching for the answer, reading just about everything on the subject. We know for sure that Mary and Joseph knew the day Jesus was born because they were there. I am sure they told Jesus the day he was born just as our parents told us, and the Apostles would have learned that from Mary or Jesus or both.
But the first time December 25th shows up in any written record is 350 AD, so either written records were lost for 300 years, or that important information was passed on by word of mouth by the early Christians. It is also very fitting that Jesus Christ was born on the day the Ancient Romans regarded as the Winter Solstice (although by that time the calendar was off by four days) because with the Winter Solstice the days start getting longer and more light comes into the world.

Advent Inspirations 11:  How do we know that Jesus was born on December 25?

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O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches!

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

Everyone loves a Christmas tree, and no two trees are the same. Growing up in my family we would put up the tree around December 13, the Feast of Santa Lucia and the ancient festival of lights. Sometimes we’d go and cut it down, other times we’d go with our father and buy it from the local Boy Scout Troop, and we’d get extra greens for the nativity scenes both inside and out. We’d get the best one we could find and tall enough to reach the ceiling.

The Christmas tree tradition started in northern Europe but is now universal. It’s always some type of evergreen tree, symbolic of the new and eternal life of the Christ child. The lights on the tree represent the light and hope of Christ; the ornaments represent the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit found in the soul united to Christ, and the star on top of the tree represents the Star of David that led the Three Kings from the East to Bethlehem.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches!
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
Everyone loves a Christmas tree, and no two trees are the same. Growing up in my family we would put up the tree around December 13, the Feast of Santa Lucia and the ancient festival of lights. Sometimes we’d go and cut it down, other times we’d go with our father and buy it from the local Boy Scout Troop, and we’d get extra greens for the nativity scenes both inside and out. We’d get the best one we could find and tall enough to reach the ceiling.
The Christmas tree tradition started in northern Europe but is now universal. It’s always some type of evergreen tree, symbolic of the new and eternal life of the Christ child. The lights on the tree represent the light and hope of Christ; the ornaments represent the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit found in the soul united to Christ, and the star on top of the tree represents the Star of David that led the Three Kings from the East to Bethlehem.

Advent Inspiration 10: The Christmas Tree

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Do you have a favorite Christmas carol?

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

There must be hundreds of Christmas carols, from many countries and in many languages. St. Josemaría’s favorite is in Spanish, and it’s based on a beautiful medieval tradition of providing shelter for the homeless at Christmastime. It’s called “Madre en la puerta hay un niño” which means “Mom, there’s a kid at the door.”

A little boy, more beautiful than the shining sun, knocks on the door and says he’s freezing cold because he’s dressed in rags. The mother says, “Let him in and he can warm up by the fire place, because these days there’s no more love in the world.” The mother asks him where he’s from, and he says, “Well, my father’s from heaven and so is my mother, and I’ve come down to earth to suffer!” It turns out, he is the Christ Child!

When we provide shelter for the homeless, we are providing a home for Jesus Christ himself.

Do you have a favorite Christmas carol?
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
There must be hundreds of Christmas carols, from many countries and in many languages. St. Josemaría’s favorite is in Spanish, and it’s based on a beautiful medieval tradition of providing shelter for the homeless at Christmastime. It’s called “Madre en la puerta hay un niño” which means “Mom, there’s a kid at the door.”
A little boy, more beautiful than the shining sun, knocks on the door and says he’s freezing cold because he’s dressed in rags. The mother says, “Let him in and he can warm up by the fire place, because these days there’s no more love in the world.” The mother asks him where he’s from, and he says, “Well, my father’s from heaven and so is my mother, and I’ve come down to earth to suffer!” It turns out, he is the Christ Child!
When we provide shelter for the homeless, we are providing a home for Jesus Christ himself.

Advent Inspiration 9:  Do you have a favorite Christmas carol?

Thank you for joining us during this Advent Season. As a special thank you, please take a listen to “Our Lady’s Last Christmas”

Thank you for joining us during this Advent Season. As a special thank you, please take a listen to “Our Lady’s Last Christmas”

Bonus - Our Lady's Last Christmas

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’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.

28 - 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.  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.”

27 - 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.

26 - Home for Christmas

25 - The First Christmas Carol

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

Why do so many people go to Mass on Christmas?  Because no one wants to miss the opportunity to share in the Good News that a Savior has been born for us to save us from our sins. That’s really good news and gives everyone hope.

Christmas is the only celebration of the year that has four different sets of prayers and readings for the four different Masses: Christmas Eve Vigil Mass in the early evening; Midnight Mass, or Mass of the Angels; Mass at Dawn, or Mass of the Shepherds; and Mass during the Day, or Mass of the King.

Last Christmas I celebrated Christmas Mass in the cave of the Shepherds in Bethlehem on Christmas Morning. We sang “Joy to the World” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”, and the Gloria from the Missa de Angelis. Unforgettable.

Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
Why do so many people go to Mass on Christmas?  Because no one wants to miss the opportunity to share in the Good News that a Savior has been born for us to save us from our sins. That’s really good news and gives everyone hope.
Christmas is the only celebration of the year that has four different sets of prayers and readings for the four different Masses: Christmas Eve Vigil Mass in the early evening; Midnight Mass, or Mass of the Angels; Mass at Dawn, or Mass of the Shepherds; and Mass during the Day, or Mass of the King.
Last Christmas I celebrated Christmas Mass in the cave of the Shepherds in Bethlehem on Christmas Morning. We sang “Joy to the World” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”, and the Gloria from the Missa de Angelis. Unforgettable.

24 - The Four Masses of Christmas

Do you remember when the Apollo 11 astronauts returned to earth? I know, that was 50 years ago, but everyone’s still talking about it. That celebration lasted for weeks, with ticker-tape parades all over the country.

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

Sending three men into the heavens and bringing them back to earth was really something, but sending God to earth as a man and then back to heaven was even bigger! That’s why we celebrate Christmas every year for at least two weeks, from Christmas Day, December 25, until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday after Epiphany.  And those Twelve Days of Christmas when your true love gave something to you?  Go ahead and count them: they are the 12 days from Christmas to Epiphany, January 6.

So how do we celebrate?  Easy.  Parties, good food, fine wine, singing, movies, games, sledding, tobogganing, fireworks, air horns, visiting relatives, and visiting Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament at your local Church for twelve days just to say thank you!

And ... is it possible to over-celebrate? Yes. If you put on more than twelve pounds in those twelve days, you overdid it. But don't worry, Lent will be here soon enough.

Do you remember when the Apollo 11 astronauts returned to earth? I know, that was 50 years ago, but everyone’s still talking about it. That celebration lasted for weeks, with ticker-tape parades all over the country.
Hi, this is Fr. Rocky with another Advent Inspiration.
Sending three men into the heavens and bringing them back to earth was really something, but sending God to earth as a man and then back to heaven was even bigger! That’s why we celebrate Christmas every year for at least two weeks, from Christmas Day, December 25, until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday after Epiphany.  And those Twelve Days of Christmas when your true love gave something to you?  Go ahead and count them: they are the 12 days from Christmas to Epiphany, January 6.
So how do we celebrate?  Easy.  Parties, good food, fine wine, singing, movies, games, sledding, tobogganing, fireworks, air horns, visiting relatives, and visiting Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament at your local Church for twelve days just to say thank you!
And ... is it possible to over-celebrate? Yes. If you put on more than twelve pounds in those twelve days, you overdid it. But don't worry, Lent will be here soon enough.

23 - Two weeks to celebrate Christmas

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

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

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

Advent Inspirations

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