The Diocese of Phoenix shared a reminder to parishioners that there are two days of obligation this weekend, as Christmas falls on a Saturday, meaning that the faithful will attend on Saturday and Sunday. 

The Mass is an opportunity for Catholics to receive the blessed sacrament of the eucharist and to renew their spirit through corporal worship. 

“Who’s excited to celebrate TWO Masses this weekend? Christmas Day is a Holy Day of Obligation, and we can go to Mass on Friday or Saturday. There will be no vigil Masses for Sunday offered on Saturday evening, so plan on attending Mass on Sunday too. Check with your parish for Mass times!” the Diocese of Phoenix shared on Facebook.

According to Catholic Readings, “The Gospel reading on Christmas Day will come from the Book of John and tell of God as the Word who became Flesh to come down to Earth, bringing grace and truth.” 

The specific reading will be John 1:1-5 and 9-14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”

Sunday will be the feast of the Holy Family, celebrated the first Sunday after Christmas.