The Archdiocese of Manila has released a guideline for this year’s celebration of the Misa de Aguinaldo/Simbang Gabi and Christmas Eve masses.
(Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Manila)
Addressed to all the members of the clergy of the archdiocese and signed by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, the guidelines were based on the recommendation of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission.
Simbang Gabi masses can start as early as 7 p.m. for the anticipated evening masses. For the the dawn/morning masses the last Simbang Gabi mass can start at 5:30 a.m., the circular said.
As a pastoral accommodation, the “anticipation” of the following day during the evening masses will be allowed, except for the anticipation of Monday during Sundays considering the principle of the primacy of Sunday. During these weekday evening masses the readings and prayers of the following day may be used (except during Sunday evenings when the Sunday readings and prayers are used), the circular added.
Gloria is prayed/sung and white vestments are used in all Simbang Gabi masses. The Creed is said only on Sundays.
Simbang Gabi masses celebrated on Sunday will take the prayers and readings of the Sunday but white vestments are used, the Gloria and Creed are sung or recited, the archdiocese said.
The Manila archdiocese also requires chapels, offices and other places intending to hold Simbang Gabi masses to seek permission from the archdiocese.
Our Archdiocesan policy provides that if Simbang Gabi masses are to be celebrated in chapels, offices, or places other than the parish church, shrine, or chaplaincy, explicit permission from the Archbishop of Manila has to be sought, the archdiocese said.
Further, the Archdiocese of Manila also released guidelines on the celebration of the Christmas Eve masses.
On Christmas Eve, the Vigil Mass of Christmas may be celebrated from 6 in the
evening. The last mass on the evening of Dec. 24 would take the liturgy of the
Midnight Mass of Christmas. The dawn mass of Christmas is celebrated on the early morning of Dec. 25.
Since Dec. 24 falls on a Sunday this year, the archdiocese said the dawn mass is Simbang Gabi, the other masses in the morning until late afternoon are masses of the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and masses from 6 in the evening are Vigil Masses of Christmas. The last mass on the evening of Dec. 24 will be the Midnight Mass of Christmas.
The Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission has also prepared several prayers for the holiday season.
“Let us encourage our parishioners to pray together as families so that the seasons of Advent and Christmas will be occasioned by meaningful encounters with the Lord,” said Cardinal Advincula.