The Archdiocese of Manila on Wednesday issued the guidelines for the conduct of Simbang Gabi (Misa de Aguinaldo) and Christmas Eve Masses this year.
Under Circular No. 2024-84, Manila Archbishop Jose Advincula offered the following guidelines on all the clergies under the jurisdiction of the archdiocese, which stemmed from the recommendation of the Archdiocese Liturgical Commission:
- Simbang Gabi Masses can start as early as 7:00 p.m. for evening Masses. For the Dawn/Morning Masses, the last Simbang Gabi Mass can start at 5:30 a.m.
- As a pastoral accommodation, the “anticipation” of the following day during 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).
- Gloria is prayed/sung and white vestments are used in all Simbang Gabi Masses, even on Sundays. The Creed is said only on Sundays.
- Aguinaldo/Simbang Gabi Masses celebrated on Sunday will take the prayers and readings of the Sunday but white vestments are used, and the Gloria and Creed are sung or recited. During the other Sunday Masses, which are not Aguinaldo Masses, violet vestments are used.
- 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.
- On Christmas Eve, the Vigil Mass of Christmas may be celebrated from 6:00 in the evening. The last Mass on the evening of 24 December would take the liturgy of the Midnight Mass of Christmas. The dawn Mass of Christmas is celebrated on the early morning of 25 December.
- The Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission prepared Family Prayers for Advent (Blessing of Advent Wreath and Lighting of Advent Candles) and Family Prayers for Christmas (Blessing of the Belen, Parol, and Christmas Tree; Blessing and Veneration of the Image of the Infant Jesus and Blessing of Homes at the Beginning of the Year).
The nine-day Simbang Gabi starts on December 16 until Christmas Eve.
“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,” Advincula said.—Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News
