--- title: "Mass Readings for December 25, 2026: Christmas · Bless" url: https://blessbible.app/calendar/2026/12/25/ description: "December 25, 2026: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Year B, white. Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18. Gospel in the CPDV." updated: 2026-10-20 --- The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) · Solemnity # Mass Readings *for Friday, December 25, 2026* On Friday, December 25, 2026, the Church in the United States celebrates the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Year B; the liturgical color is white. The Gospel at the Mass during the Day is John 1:1-18. Updated October 20, 2026 ## The liturgical day Liturgical color White - **Celebration**: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) - **Season**: Christmas Time - **Rank**: Solemnity - **Sunday cycle**: Year B - **Weekday cycle**: Cycle I ## Mass readings (US) ### Vigil Mass #### First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5 Read in the CPDV: [Isaiah 62](https://blessbible.app/bible/isaiah/62/) #### Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 Read in the CPDV: [Psalm 89 (88 in the Vulgate)](https://blessbible.app/bible/psalms/88/) #### Second Reading: Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 - 16 Then Paul, rising up and motioning for silence with his hand, said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen closely. - 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were settlers in the land of Egypt. And with an exalted arm, he led them away from there. - 22 And having removed him, he raised up for them king David. And offering testimony about him, he said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, to be a man according to my own heart, who will accomplish all that I will.’ - 23 From his offspring, according to the Promise, God has brought Jesus the Savior to Israel. - 24 John was preaching, before the face of his advent, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. - 25 Then, when John completed his course, he was saying: ‘I am not the one you consider me to be. For behold, one arrives after me, the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to loosen.’ Catholic Public Domain Version Read in the CPDV: [The whole of Acts 13](https://blessbible.app/bible/acts/13/) #### Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25 - 1 The book of the lineage of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. - 2 Abraham conceived Isaac. And Isaac conceived Jacob. And Jacob conceived Judah and his brothers. - 3 And Judah conceived Perez and Zerah by Tamar. And Perez conceived Hezron. And Hezron conceived Ram. - 4 And Ram conceived Amminadab. And Amminadab conceived Nahshon. And Nahshon conceived Salmon. - 5 And Salmon conceived Boaz by Rahab. And Boaz conceived Obed by Ruth. And Obed conceived Jesse. - 6 And Jesse conceived king David. And king David conceived Solomon, by her who had been the wife of Uriah. - 7 And Solomon conceived Rehoboam. And Rehoboam conceived Abijah. And Abijah conceived Asa. - 8 And Asa conceived Jehoshaphat. And Jehoshaphat conceived Joram. And Joram conceived Uzziah. - 9 And Uzziah conceived Jotham. And Jotham conceived Ahaz. And Ahaz conceived Hezekiah. - 10 And Hezekiah conceived Manasseh. And Manasseh conceived Amos. And Amos conceived Josiah. - 11 And Josiah conceived Jechoniah and his brothers in the transmigration of Babylon. - 12 And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechoniah conceived Shealtiel. And Shealtiel conceived Zerubbabel. - 13 And Zerubbabel conceived Abiud. And Abiud conceived Eliakim. And Eliakim conceived Azor. - 14 And Azor conceived Zadok. And Zadok conceived Achim. And Achim conceived Eliud. - 15 And Eliud conceived Eleazar. And Eleazar conceived Matthan. And Matthan conceived Jacob. - 16 And Jacob conceived Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. - 17 And so, all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the transmigration of Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the transmigration of Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations. - 18 Now the procreation of the Christ occurred in this way. After his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they lived together, she was found to have conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit. - 19 Then Joseph, her husband, since he was just and was not willing to hand her over, preferred to send her away secretly. - 20 But while thinking over these things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to accept Mary as your wife. For what has been formed in her is of the Holy Spirit. - 21 And she shall give birth to a son. And you shall call his name JESUS. For he shall accomplish the salvation of his people from their sins.” - 22 Now all this occurred in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: - 23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive in her womb, and she shall give birth to a son. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means: God is with us.” - 24 Then Joseph, arising from sleep, did just as the Angel of the Lord had instructed him, and he accepted her as his wife. - 25 And he knew her not, yet she bore her son, the firstborn. And he called his name JESUS. Catholic Public Domain Version Read in the CPDV: [The whole of Matthew 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/matthew/1/) ### Mass during the Night #### First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6 Read in the CPDV: [Isaiah 9](https://blessbible.app/bible/isaiah/9/) #### Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 Read in the CPDV: [Psalm 96 (95 in the Vulgate)](https://blessbible.app/bible/psalms/95/) #### Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14 - 11 For the grace of God our Savior has appeared to all men, - 12 instructing us to reject impiety and worldly desires, so that we may live soberly and justly and piously in this age, - 13 looking forward to the blessed hope and the advent of the glory of the great God and of our Savior Jesus Christ. - 14 He gave himself for our sake, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse for himself an acceptable people, pursuers of good works. Catholic Public Domain Version Read in the CPDV: [The whole of Titus 2](https://blessbible.app/bible/titus/2/) #### Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 - 1 And it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, so that the whole world would be enrolled. - 2 This was the first enrollment; it was made by the ruler of Syria, Quirinius. - 3 And all went to be declared, each one to his own city. - 4 Then Joseph also ascended from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, - 5 in order to be declared, with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. - 6 Then it happened that, while they were there, the days were completed, so that she would give birth. - 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son. And she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn. - 8 And there were shepherds in the same region, being vigilant and keeping watch in the night over their flock. - 9 And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood near them, and the brightness of God shone around them, and they were struck with a great fear. - 10 And the Angel said to them: “Do not be afraid. For, behold, I proclaim to you a great joy, which will be for all the people. - 11 For today a Savior has been born for you in the city of David: he is Christ the Lord. - 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” - 13 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the celestial army, praising God and saying, - 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.” Catholic Public Domain Version Read in the CPDV: [The whole of Luke 2](https://blessbible.app/bible/luke/2/) ### Mass at Dawn #### First Reading: Isaiah 62:11-12 Read in the CPDV: [Isaiah 62](https://blessbible.app/bible/isaiah/62/) #### Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12 Read in the CPDV: [Psalm 97 (96 in the Vulgate)](https://blessbible.app/bible/psalms/96/) #### Second Reading: Titus 3:4-7 - 4 But then the kindness and humanity of God our Savior appeared. - 5 And he saved us, not by works of justice that we had done, but, in accord with his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and by the renovation of the Holy Spirit, - 6 whom he has poured out upon us in abundance, through Jesus Christ our Savior, - 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Catholic Public Domain Version Read in the CPDV: [The whole of Titus 3](https://blessbible.app/bible/titus/3/) #### Gospel: Luke 2:15-20 - 15 And it happened that, when the Angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us cross over to Bethlehem and see this word, which has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us.” - 16 And they went quickly. And they found Mary and Joseph; and the infant was lying in a manger. - 17 Then, upon seeing this, they understood the word that had been spoken to them about this boy. - 18 And all who heard it were amazed by this, and by those things which were told to them by the shepherds. - 19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. - 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told to them. Catholic Public Domain Version Read in the CPDV: [The whole of Luke 2](https://blessbible.app/bible/luke/2/) ### Mass during the Day #### First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10 Read in the CPDV: [Isaiah 52](https://blessbible.app/bible/isaiah/52/) #### Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 Read in the CPDV: [Psalm 98 (97 in the Vulgate)](https://blessbible.app/bible/psalms/97/) #### Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6 - 1 In many places and in many ways, in past times, God spoke to the fathers through the Prophets; - 2 lastly, in these days, he has spoken to us through the Son, whom he appointed as the heir of all things, and through whom he made the world. - 3 And since the Son is the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and is carrying all things by the Word of his virtue, thereby accomplishing a purging of sins, he sits at the right hand of Majesty on high. - 4 And having been made so much better than the Angels, he has inherited a name so much greater than theirs. - 5 For to which of the Angels has he ever said: “You are my Son; today have I begotten you?” Or again: “I will be a Father to him, and he shall be a Son to me?” - 6 And again, when he brings the only-begotten Son into the world, he says: “And let all the Angels of God adore him.” Catholic Public Domain Version Read in the CPDV: [The whole of Hebrews 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/hebrews/1/) #### Gospel: John 1:1-18 - 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. - 2 He was with God in the beginning. - 3 All things were made through Him, and nothing that was made was made without Him. - 4 Life was in Him, and Life was the light of men. - 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. - 6 There was a man sent by God, whose name was John. - 7 He arrived as a witness to offer testimony about the Light, so that all would believe through him. - 8 He was not the Light, but he was to offer testimony about the Light. - 9 The true Light, which illuminates every man, was coming into this world. - 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him. - 11 He went to his own, and his own did not accept him. - 12 Yet whoever did accept him, those who believed in his name, he gave them the power to become the sons of God. - 13 These are born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. - 14 And the Word became flesh, and he lived among us, and we saw his glory, glory like that of an only-begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - 15 John offers testimony about him, and he cries out, saying: “This is the one about whom I said: ‘He who is to come after me, has been placed ahead of me, because he existed before me.’” - 16 And from his fullness, we all have received, even grace for grace. - 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. - 18 No one ever saw God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he himself has described him. Catholic Public Domain Version Read in the CPDV: [The whole of John 1](https://blessbible.app/bible/john/1/) Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar. In US parishes the readings are proclaimed from the NABRE; the text shown here is the Catholic Public Domain Version. Old Testament readings and the psalm are listed with a link to their chapter: the US Lectionary numbers some of their verses differently from the CPDV, so their text is not printed here. Psalm citations keep the Lectionary’s Hebrew numbering; the CPDV numbers the Psalms as the Vulgate does. Spotted a wrong date, color or citation? [Report an error](https://blessbible.app/support/#report) and we’ll fix it in the app and here. ## Saint of the day [St. Anastasia](https://blessbible.app/saints/st-anastasia/) Martyr · Remembered on December 25 [Read about St. Anastasia](https://blessbible.app/saints/st-anastasia/) The day’s Mass celebrates the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). 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