I want you to share in our beautiful monastic customs celebrating Christmas here in St. Emma Monastery. After Lauds on December 24, The Proclamation of the Birth of Jesus is sung, situating the birth in history according to the ancient way of describing time.
On Christmas Eve at 11:15 p.m., we solemnly processed into the Chapel and I, the Prioress, carried the Infant (made of wax) from Germany. The netting covering the Infant was embroidered by the Zulu people in South Africa. A guest Sister from Uganda who studies in Ohio was visiting us over her Christmas break.
This was part of our experienced that Jesus indeed came for all peoples! Our chaplain, Father Chad OSB wearing the Mass vestments, followed the nuns.
According to monastic tradition, we sang the first two of Vigils (psalms) with readings before Midnight Mass and then began the Mass with the Gloria. After Communion, we sang the third nocturn (canticles) and then the Mass concluded as usual.
Christmas blessings,
Mother Mary Anne, OSB
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