It started in the last few years that we began the tradition of attending midnight Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Since we no longer traveling to Detroit and our home parish was sort of modern looking, being at the Basilica for midnight Mass would feel more of Christmas solemn ritual. Also, this would be the first midnight Christmas Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson who was installed as Archbishop of St. Louis on June 10, 2009.
After our Christmas Eve dinner and opening of presents, we left the house around 9:45 p.m. and drove on the new opening portion of the highway 40/I-64. Traffic was light and it took us only about 40 minutes to get to the Basilica. We had to walk around looking for available space as many people were already there early to listen to the choir. We found two center seats, about 10 pews away, on the left side of the altar.
It was a beautiful Mass and I even joined my husband in singing "Angels We Have Heard on High", "O Holy Night" and the recessional hymn "Joy To The World". I am not saying my singing has improved, it could be that the people around us decided to tolerate my singing as it was Christmas, the season of kindness, as no one asked me to stop singing and the church did not clear quickly! We got home about 2:45 a.m. it was the latest that we ever went to bed (our normal bedtime is around 9:30 p.m. - haa haa).
I hope you have had a blessed Christmas and many beautiful memories with your family. Here is to 2010 and hope that it will be the beginning of peace, and that good health, love and happiness in the years ahead.
It started in the last few years that we began the tradition of attending midnight Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Since we no longer traveling to Detroit and our home parish was sort of modern looking, being at the Basilica for midnight Mass would feel more of Christmas solemn ritual. Also, this would be the first midnight Christmas Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson who was installed as Archbishop of St. Louis on June 10, 2009.
After our Christmas Eve dinner and opening of presents, we left the house around 9:45 p.m. and drove on the new opening portion of the highway 40/I-64. Traffic was light and it took us only about 40 minutes to get to the Basilica. We had to walk around looking for available space as many people were already there early to listen to the choir. We found two center seats, about 10 pews away, on the left side of the altar. 
It was a beautiful Mass and I even joined my husband in singing "Angels We Have Heard on High", "O Holy Night" and the recessional hymn "Joy To The World". I am not saying my singing has improved, it could be that the people around us decided to tolerate my singing as it was Christmas, the season of kindness, as no one asked me to stop singing and the church did not clear quickly! We got home about 2:45 a.m. it was the latest that we ever went to bed (our normal bedtime is around 9:30 p.m. - haa haa). 
I hope you have had a blessed Christmas and many beautiful memories with your family. Here is to 2010 and hope that it will be the beginning of peace, and that good health, love and happiness in the years ahead.
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