Office of Worship Diocese of Richmond • 7800 Carousel Lane, Richmond, Virginia 23294

Simbang Gabi Celebrations in the Diocese of Richmond

Simbang Gabi is a typical Filipino way of preparing for the great feast of , a tradition brought to the by Spanish evangelizers from Mexico. Originally, it popularly came to be known as Misa Aguinaldo. De Aguinaldo means , which is peculiar to Christmas. People would wake up early in the morning for nine days before Christmas to join in the celebration of the dawn from 4 to 5 o’clock in the morning. They would make this practice their Aguinaldo to God for the great gift of . The practice can also be understood as the preparation for people to receive from God the great gift or Aguinaldo of Christmas, which is Jesus, the Savior of the world.

For Filipino Catholics, Simbang Gabi is above all an expression of their filial devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. For nine consecutive days, they join and accompany her, so to speak, as she awaits the birth of her Son. For this reason, the Masses on these days are celebrated as solemn votive Masses in her honor.

Throughout the centuries, the celebration of Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo has been preserved, enriched, and sustained by our people in spite of the pastoral and liturgical challenges it underwent. Its form of celebration today is the effect of the long history of this celebration. It was at the First Plenary Council of the Philippines in 1953 that a formal petition to Rome was made for Simbang Gabi. The Papal Indult, with these conditions, reads: “On the nine days preceding the Nativity of our Lord, i.e., from December 16th to 24th, the solemn votive Mass Rorate Coeli Desuper is sung especially in parish and convent churches, but only once a day with great solemnity and with a big attendance of the faithful” (Acta et Decreta Primi Concilii Plenarii Ins. Phil, 1953, n. 356: J. Ylla, OP, Indultos y Privilegios de Filipinas, UST Press, 1940, p. 24.).

On March 24, 1961, Rome granted the continuation of this Indult for five years (Cf. A. Santamaria, “Misas de Aguinaldo” in Boletin Ecclesiastico de Filipinas (April, 1961), pp. 470-471). Today, everywhere in the Philippines, the Simbang Gabi is celebrated with great solemnity, with the singing of the “Gloria”, in white vestments, and with Christmas carols and festive ornamentations, in contrast with the sober character of the season.

The years of Martial Law contributed to the modification of the time of the Simbang Gabi in some places. The adjustment from dawn to evening was in view of the curfew hours imposed during the Martial Law regime. Today, this practice continues to be kept even if the curfew hour restriction is no longer in force.

The Diocese of Richmond and the Office of Worship encourages the practice of Simbang Gabi due to the spiritual nourishment it provides to the faithful. In this connection, the following guidelines are presented to observe the Indult and avoid abuses and misinterpretation of this Filipino tradition.

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Time of Day for the Celebration of Simbang Gabi Liturgies in the Diocese of Richmond. As aforementioned, from the beginning, Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo was always celebrated at an early hour, from 4:00 to 5:00 am. Other Masses celebrated during the nine days before Christmas are celebrated as Masses of the Advent season and should follow the norms of the liturgy of the Advent season.

However, as noted, during the years of Martial Law with imposed curfews in the Philippines, an adjustment from dawn to evening was made. Though the curfew hour restriction is no longer in effect, the practice—in the Philippines—of Simbang Gabi liturgies occurring in the evening continues. Because many of the faithful follow the urban rhythm of work, they find it easier to join in evening rather than dawn Masses.

In the Diocese of Richmond, only late afternoon (from 4:00 pm) and onward Masses are considered Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo. The celebration of the Misa de Aguinaldo at other times, e.g., morning, mid-day, or any Mass before 4:00 pm, is not in keeping with the liturgical norms of the Diocese of Richmond and is to be regarded as an abuse.

When Simbang Gabi is celebrated in the evening of Saturday and Sunday, the liturgy of the Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Advent) should be followed. Therefore, no Gloria would be sung, and purple vestments would be worn. In addition, Sunday evening Mass should not anticipate the weekday Mass of the following day.

Mass Formulary. For the weekday Simbang Gabi liturgies, the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Advent located in The , Third Edition, should be used with the Gloria and Advent Preface II. In addition, the section for Advent in the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Volume I: Missal, published by Liturgical Press in 2012, may also be used for weekday Masses. Please refer to the Ordo during these dates in December when Simbang Gabi liturgies are celebrated for other pertinent liturgical notes. If Simbang Gabi is celebrated in the evening of Saturday and Sunday, the Mass Formulary for the Fourth Sunday of Advent should be used with no Gloria and Advent Preface II.

Readings. The readings for the day should be followed for weekday and Saturday or Sunday evening Simbang Gabi. Please note, again, the Saturday or Sunday evening liturgies would use the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Readings for weekday Simbang Gabi may also come from the section for Advent in the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Volume II: Lectionary, published by Liturgical Press in 2012.

Hymns. Because the Simbang Gabi liturgies are a way of preparing for the great feast of Christmas, just as the Season of Advent is a preparation for Christmas, music associated with the Advent Season should be selected and sung. A Gloria is sung for Simbang Gabi liturgies unless—as noted above—the celebration is in the evening of Saturday or Sunday. At these times, there is no Gloria, as the celebration follows the liturgy of the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Selecting music associated with the Advent Season is a practice followed by an Archdiocese with a long history of celebrating Simbang Gabi, which was consulted by the Diocese of Richmond’s Office of Worship.

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Vestments. White vestments are used for the celebration of Simbang Gabi liturgies during the week. However, as noted above, if the celebration is in the evening of Saturday or Sunday, then purple vestments are worn, as the celebration should follow the liturgy of the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Location for the Celebration of Simbang Gabi Masses. The ordinary place for the celebration of the Simbang Gabi Masses is the parochial church. Chapels, which are duly recognized within the jurisdiction of the parish church, are given permission to celebrate Simbang Gabi only with the consent of the parish priest and in coordination with the parish.

Rev. Sean M. Prince Director, Office of Worship

November 27, 2016