How to Stream Christmas Eve Mass Online and on TV
Christmas tree lit at St Peter's square with St Peter's basilica cupola in the background at The Vatican on December 9, 2023.
Each year thousands of worshipers gather at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in Rome to experience Christmas Midnight mass.
Presided over by Pope Francis, the mass offers the hopeful message of Christmas. It also features music from the Sistine Chapel Choir, the world’s oldest choir still in operation.
One the most-watched Christmas masses around the world, if you cannot get to the Vatican, the famous service can be watched at home in 72 countries across five continents.
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How to watch the Vatican Christmas Eve Mass
In the NBC special Christmas Eve Mass, viewers can watch the mass from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The special begins Sunday, Dec. 24 at 11:30 p.m. ET and concludes at 1 a.m.
This special Christmas Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica has been broadcast since Pope Pius XII inaugurated the first one in 1954. Now it’s a beloved ritual for many families to begin the holiday by watching this most famous mass with hymns and prayers. Plus, St. Peters is a design masterpiece with vast golden decor, a dramatic dome and sculptures by Michelangelo. If you'd prefer to watch the midnight mass live, you can stream it on the Vatican Youtube Channel. The Mass begins Dec. 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET ( 7:30 p.m. Central European Standard Time).
St. Peter’s Basilica isn’t the only place to watch Midnight Mass. Here are some other options to celebrate the holy nights.
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Christmas mass on TV
St. Patrick's Cathedral
No tickets remain for the 12 a.m. 2023 Midnight Christmas Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. However, the service will be streamed online on the church's website and on their Youtube account.
Westminister Abbey
The famous Westminster Abbey has played a key role in the lives of kings, queens, poets and great Britons since 960AD. The church where coronations have been held since 1066 is also the resting place of more than 3,000 notables. Their Midnight Mass is called First Eucharist of Christmas night. The 90-minute service features Christmas carols, music from the icon Abbey Choir, a sermon and Holy Communion. Held from 11 p.m to 12:30 a.m., Greenwich Mean Time, (6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. ET), you can stream the service from the Abbey's website.
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Sacre Coeur Basilica
The majestic Sacre Coeur Basilica is one of the recognizable landmarks in Paris, especially because of its exquisite limestone facade. A Midnight Mass begins Dec. 25, 2023 at 12 a.m. (Central European Time), (6 p.m. ET).
At 11 p.m. on Dec. 24, there’s a Christmas Vigil followed by Midnight Christmas Mass. The Mass is broadcast on their Youtube channel and on the KTOTV website.
Check out all the Christmas mass options on KTOTV.
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Christian World Media Livestream Midnight Mass
Christian World Media offers daily livestreams of countless church services and events. They also feature video-on-demand sermons from around the world. Check out the schedule for services on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.
The CatholicTV Network
CatholicTV airs Masses from locales around the nation. Find the full Mass schedule or watch their livestreams of services around the globe.
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