seven o'clock
I manage still to use the sublime privilege given by the Church that morning , of being allowed to celebrate three times . I have not omitted it for fifty years . When I shall fail to say my three Christmas Masses , then you may take up your _ Exequiæ _ , and practise the _ Requiem æternam _ for poor Daddy Dan . Well , I had said the first two Masses , commencing at seven o'clock . It is a curious experience , that of seven o'clock Mass on Christmas morning . The groping through the dark , with just the faintest aurora on the horizon , the smell of the frost in the air , the crunching of icicles under one 's feet , the shadowy figures , making their way with some difficulty to the church , the salutations of the people : `` Is that you , Mick ? '' '' 'T is , Mrs. Grady ; a happy Christmas to you , ma'am . ''