pasterka

Although Pasterka mass is closely associated with the specific time in Christian liturgy, it is not the actual hour of the night that predicates its meaning. According to Polish ordinance of the Eucharist, the Pasterka is defined only by the type of prayer and biblical texts used during Christmas celebrations. It can be held more than once on December 24, in more than one location by the parish priest; at the church and at a nearby chapel. Often, there are two (or even three){{cite web | url=http://www.xn--witaboegonarodzenia-rrc79k7u.pl/pasterka/ | title=Tradycyjna pasterka | publisher=Boże Narodzenie | work=Święta Bożego Narodzenia | accessdate=December 19, 2012 | language=Polish | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731061856/http://www.xn--witaboegonarodzenia-rrc79k7u.pl/pasterka/ | archivedate=July 31, 2013 }} Pasterkas celebrated next to each other – earlier ones for the families with children, then at 9 and 10 p.m. for the youth, and a final one at 12:00 midnight,{{cite web | url=http://liturgicalcenter.org/?a=liturg&sub=trad&grupa=35&mod=49 | title=The Shepherds' Mass | publisher=Polish American Liturgical Center.org | year=2008 | accessdate=December 21, 2012}}{{cite web | url=http://detroitchurchblog.blogspot.ca/2010/12/celebrate-christmas-in-d.html | title=Midnight Mass at the Cathedral | publisher=Detroit Catholic Church | work=Celebrate Christmas | date=December 20, 2010 | accessdate=December 21, 2012 | author=Detroit Archdiocese}} for the adults.

File:Wigilia potrawy 554.jpg supper before midnight carolling at Pasterka]]

The participation in the Birth of Christ celebrations is obligatory for all practicing Catholics. They have the option of attending any one of the evening masses or even more than one. Priests may refer to all of them as Pasterka,{{cite web | url=http://www.przewodnik-katolicki.pl/nr/ksiadz_odpowiada/pasterka_przed_polnoca.html | title=Pasterka przed północą... (Pasterka before midnight) | publisher=Drukarnia i Księgarnia św. Wojciecha | work=Przewodnik Katolicki 02/2009 (Catholic Guide) | accessdate=December 19, 2012 | author=Rev. Jacek Kędzierski | language=Polish | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227000853/http://www.przewodnik-katolicki.pl/nr/ksiadz_odpowiada/pasterka_przed_polnoca.html | archivedate=December 27, 2012 }} even though formally they are called Wigilia masses by the episcopate as opposed to the grand mass at midnight.{{cite web | url=http://brewiarz.katolik.pl/xii_12/2512/czyt.php3 | title=Narodzenie Pańskie. Uroczystość | publisher=Konferencja Episkopatu Polski i Wydawnictwo Pallottinum | work=Internetowa liturgia godzin | accessdate=December 25, 2012 | language=Polish}} The exact hour of the birth of Christ is not written in the canonical gospels, which allows for choosing the ideal time for ritual prayer on that occasion. On Christmas Eve (December 24) and on Christmas Day, the masses can be celebrated from three different liturgical texts, each suited to a specific sacrament of the Eucharist.{{cite web | url=http://www.ppld.co.uk/tradycje/gwiazdka/pasterka.php | title=Pasterka | publisher=Polska Parafia Luton / Dunstable, 2007 | work=Zwyczaje Bożonarodzeniowe | accessdate=December 19, 2012 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403211229/http://www.ppld.co.uk/tradycje/gwiazdka/pasterka.php | archivedate=April 3, 2012 }} In the early hours, the worshippers can attend the Advent waiting mass, which does not excuse them from participating in the Nativity mass for the Birth of Christ later on.

There are no masses in the late afternoon on December 24, which is the time for Wigilia, the traditional supper at family homes. The first evening mass of the Christmas Eve (after the Wigilia) is celebrated around 4 p.m. or later before 8 p.m. followed by the 10 p.m. mass and the one-hour-long grand Midnight Mass, which begins at 12. Music for the Midnight Mass begins as soon as the doors open at 11:00 pm. The Blessing of the Crib can take place before, or after the homilies, when the priests open the Szopka nativity scenes set up by the main altar.{{cite web | url=http://archidiecezja.lodz.pl/new/?news_id=81a7087140cc404cdc89edb18be4c121 | title=Pasterka w katedrze (Pasterka at the Cathedral) | publisher=Archidiecezja Łódzka | work=Duszpasterstwo | date=December 25, 2011 | accessdate=December 19, 2012 | language=Polish}} Traditionally, the service concludes with an Apostolic Blessing.{{cite web | url=http://www.themichigancatholic.com/2010/12/midnight-blessing/ | title=Midnight blessing by Archbishop Vigneron | publisher=The Michigan Catholic | date=December 17, 2010 | accessdate=December 21, 2012 | author=Robert Delaney}} The next day masses are interchangeable according to scripture, allowing for flexibility in choosing the religious services by individual parishioners. The Christmas Day begins with the early morning mass followed by daytime masses.

Pasterka is a Catholic mass specific to the Birth of Christ celebrations in Poland. Participation in Pasterka is synonymous with Christmas. Many practicing Catholics visit the Church twice on that occasion and are encouraged by the priest to do so.

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|filename=Bog sie rodzi - Franciszek Karpiński, Paweł Bębenek.ogg

|title=Polish traditional Christmas carol

|description=Music sample from the Bóg się rodzi.
Lyrics by Franciszek Karpiński, 1792.

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Pasterka in Kamienica and Zasadne Village in Gorce Mountains, Poland, 2017:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icITqD77HRs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkpc438Rz7s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgIIfcdy6-s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2-mJ-9mJsU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdOhntRcvhI

[Acc.: January 7, 2022]

• Polish Christmas carol Bóg się rodzi (God Is Born)
• Christmas worldwide

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Category:Polish traditions

Category:Christmas in Poland