Abstract

This article provides an overview of Augustine’s Christmas sermons. Christmas is more important for Augustine than his words to Januarius might suggest (Letter 55, 2). In fact, the parallels between his preaching at Christmas and at Easter are striking in this regard. The catechesis in the Christmas sermons is based on the Nicean creed (or that of Constantinopole) rather than on the Lenten and Easter baptismal creeds. Together, the feasts of Christmas and Easter celebrate—both theologically and liturgically—the one mystery of salvation.