December in the Traditional Catholic Liturgical Year
December is one of the most beautiful and hope-filled months of the Traditional Catholic liturgical year. The Church begins with the holy season of Advent, a time of prayer, penance, and joyful expectation, preparing the faithful for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christmas approaches, the liturgy is filled with the voices of the prophets, the longing of Israel, and the Church’s fervent expectation of the promised Messiah. At the close of Advent, the Church bursts into the joy of Christmas, celebrating the mystery of the Incarnation, when the Eternal Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Throughout December, Catholics prepare their hearts through the Advent liturgy, the O Antiphons, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose Immaculate Conception is celebrated with great solemnity. The Church also honors many beloved saints, including St. Francis Xavier, St. Nicholas, St. Ambrose, St. Lucy, St. John of the Cross, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, The Holy Innocents, St. Thomas Becket, and St. Sylvester I, whose lives illuminate the mystery of Christ’s coming into the world.
At the center of December stands the glorious feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The birth of the Savior fulfills the promises made through the prophets and inaugurates the redemption of mankind. The Church celebrates this mystery with profound joy, proclaiming that God became man so that man might share in the divine life. Every Christmas Mass, hymn, and prayer echoes the angelic proclamation: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.”
In The Liturgical Year, Dom Prosper Guéranger masterfully unfolds the mysteries of Advent and Christmas through Sacred Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, ancient liturgical prayers, and centuries of Catholic tradition. His reflections help readers enter deeply into the Church’s preparation for the Savior’s birth and rejoice in the wonder of the Incarnation.
Whether you attend the Traditional Latin Mass, pray the Divine Office, or desire to follow the Church’s sacred calendar more faithfully, December offers a profound opportunity to prepare your soul for Christ, grow in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and celebrate the birth of the Redeemer with renewed faith and gratitude.
December at a Glance
December is a month of expectation, fulfillment, and joy. The Church prepares for the coming of Christ through Advent before celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord and the beginning of the Christmas season.
Highlights of December
- Advent
- O Antiphons
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Christmas Novena
- Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- Christmas Octave
- St. Francis Xavier
- St. Nicholas
- St. Ambrose
- St. Lucy
- St. John of the Cross
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- St. Stephen
- St. John the Evangelist
- Holy Innocents
- St. Thomas Becket
- St. Sylvester I
- Daily reflections from Dom Prosper Guéranger
- Traditional Roman Calendar feast days
- Related sermons and videos from Sensus Fidelium
Each reflection leads readers through the Church’s joyful preparation for the coming of Christ while revealing the profound beauty of the Advent and Christmas liturgies. Dom Prosper Guéranger’s timeless writings continue to inspire Catholics to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation with greater faith, hope, and love.
December 2 – St Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr
December 3 – St. Francis Xavier, Confessor, Apostle of the Indies
December 4 – St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
December 4 – St Barbara, Virgin & Martyr
December 5 – Commemoration of St Sabas, Abbot
December 6 – St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra and Confessor
December 7 – St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
December 8 – The Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin
December 9 – Second Day within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception
December 10 – St. Melchiades, Pope and Martyr
December 10 – St. Eulalia, Virgin and Martyr
December 10 – Translation of the Holy House of Loretto
December 10 – Third Day within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception
December 11 – St. Damasus, Pope and Martyr
December 12 – Fifth Day within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception
December 13 – St Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
December 14 – Seventh Day Within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception
December 15 – The Octave of the Immaculate Conception
December 16 – St Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli, and Martyr
December 17 – THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE GREAT ANTIPHONS: O Sapientia
December 18 – Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
December 18 – SECOND ANTIPHON: O Adonaï
December 19 – THIRD ANTIPHON: O radix Jesse
December 20 – FOURTH ANTIPHON: O Clavis David!
December 21 – Saint Thomas, Apostle
December 22 – SIXTH ANTIPHON: O Rex gentium
December 23:– SEVENTH ANTIPHON: O Emmanuel!
December 26 – Saint Stephen, the First Martyr
December 27 – Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
December 28 – The Holy Innocents
December 29 – St. Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Martyr
December 30
December 31 – St. Sylvester, Pope and Confessor
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is December important in the Catholic liturgical year?
December includes both the holy season of Advent and the celebration of Christmas. The Church prepares for the coming of Christ through prayer and penance before rejoicing in His birth at Bethlehem.
What is Advent?
Advent is the four-week season of preparation before Christmas. The Church reflects upon Christ’s first coming at Bethlehem, His continual coming through grace, and His glorious Second Coming at the end of time.
Why is the Immaculate Conception celebrated in December?
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, who by a singular grace from God was preserved free from Original Sin from the first moment of her conception. It is one of the Church’s greatest Marian feasts.
Which saints are celebrated during December?
Among the best-known December saints are St. Francis Xavier, St. Nicholas, St. Ambrose, St. Lucy, St. John of the Cross, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents, St. Thomas Becket, and St. Sylvester I.
What does Dom Prosper Guéranger teach about December?
Dom Guéranger presents December as a month of joyful expectation and fulfillment. His reflections guide readers through Advent’s spirit of preparation before celebrating the mystery of the Incarnation at Christmas with the universal Church.
Is this collection based on the Traditional Roman Calendar?
Yes. These reflections follow the Traditional Roman Rite and complement the Traditional Latin Mass, preserving the timeless liturgical traditions, prayers, and spiritual heritage of the Catholic Church.