Christmas Proclamation – Roman Martyrology

The announcement of the Nativity of the Lord from the Roman Martyrology, known as the kalenda, formally proclaims the birth of Jesus Christ.   Beginning with creation, it relates Christmas to the major events and people of both salvation and secular history. 

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.

For more great resources for Christmas, visit the CHRISTMAS INCARNATION section of the Crossroads Initiative Library.

This solemn proclamation of the Nativity or birth of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Roman Martyrology (traditionally known as the Kalenda) may be chanted or recited, most appropriately on December 24, during the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours. It may also be chanted or recited before the beginning of midnight Christmas Mass during (The musical notation is found in Appendix I of the Roman Missal, Third Edition).

Banner/featured image by an unknown artist. Public domain.