Father Brown: "Attend a true Midnight Mass this Christmas before they completely disappear."

We saw a great post this week from the beloved Father Doug Brown, pastor at Mary Queen of Peace in Cleveland. In his heartfelt post, Father Brown urged readers to attend a true Midnight Mass this year, reflecting on its deep spiritual beauty and warning that this cherished tradition is slowly disappearing.  Agree 100%.  Obviously, above all, get to Mass for Christmas, bring your family, and celebrate this wonderful feast day!  And if you want to truly experience the transcendent beauty of Christmas: 1) go at midnight; 2) find a big, beautiful historic church, preferably in the city; 3) bring some friends and family.

If you are in the Cleveland area, two obvious choices are:

Midnight Mass at Mary Queen of Peace

Traditional Latin Midnight Mass at historic St Eilzabeth Shrine on Buckeye.

Here is Father Brown's comment in full:

It's an old maxim that new pastors should not change the schedule for Christmas - especially in their first few years. I have essentially kept the same schedule in the 15 years I have been at my parish, but it doesn't mean that it will be like this forever.

I have been reflecting a lot lately about the disappearing Midnight Mass. When I was first ordained, almost every parish celebrated Midnight Mass, which has assumed its own Catholic culture. Families would meet for Christmas Eve dinners - often meatless - and there would usually be accompanying adult beverages consumed. Then a little before midnight, they would bundle up and go early to the local church so as to secure "their pew". Midnight Mass used to be very crowded. Oftentimes, little ones and those who had imbibed fell asleep at some point during the Mass. But when Silent Night played, everyone is awake and singing the familiar hymn. Because it is a "silent night" - everything is peaceful. It's a beautiful moment - supernatural in its transcendence as the realization that Christ is born for US becomes reality.

In more recent years, the Church has moved away from Midnight Mass and now celebrates the "Mass at Night". Even the Vatican celebrates an earlier "Mass at Night". And I get it. It's a grueling pace, especially at parishes where priests are alone. Midnight Mass to a "Mass at Dawn" is a quick turnaround and usually turns me into a zombie at family Christmas dinners.

But it's worth it. It's once a year and there is something about Midnight Mass that resonates with our secular society. However, when I consider parishes within my own dioceses, I have realized that there are fewer and fewer parishes celebrating Midnight Mass.

It's likely that new family traditions have developed - probably around the earliest Vigil Mass which is typically the most crowded in all parishes. The early Mass has a character all its own and it's still a beautiful Mass - but for different reasons. It's lively and joyful and crowded.

My advice to you is to not miss an opportunity to attend Midnight Mass. Do not let this become a historical footnote without first experiencing it at least once. Attend a true Midnight Mass this Christmas before they completely disappear.

Well said, Father Brown. Midnight Mass isn’t just about the time on the clock or the beauty of the setting - it’s about keeping watch, about meeting Christ in the stillness of the night when the world slows down. It’s a small sacrifice that makes room for something much bigger. If you’ve never experienced a true Midnight Mass, or if it’s been years, take Father Brown’s advice seriously. Don’t let this historic, transcendent treasure fade away without stepping into it at least once more. Get to MQP Christmas Eve at Midnight...or St Elizabeth...or some other beautiful urban church that has a Midnight Mass. Let's make Midnight Mass Great Again. See you there.