Simbang Gabi

[GoGoDiego]

For the people in the US:

Does your parish (preferably with a FIlipino Community) have the Misa Aguinaldo, more commonly known as the Simbang Gabi?

To those who do not know what it is, it is a practice in the Philippines where Mass is held either in the early morning (around 4-5 am) or at night (around 8pm or 9pm). It starts on December 16 and continues until December 24 (for the early morning Masses) or from December 15 to 23 (for the evening Masses)

During this Mass (by privilege from the Holy See), white vestments are worn and the Gloria is sung, even on the Sunday early morning/late night Mass.

 

[Sarcelle]

For the people in the US:

Does your parish (preferably with a FIlipino Community) have the Misa Aguinaldo, more commonly known as the Simbang Gabi?

To those who do not know what it is, it is a practice in the Philippines where Mass is held either in the early morning (around 4-5 am) or at night (around 8pm or 9pm). It starts on December 16 and continues until December 24 (for the early morning Masses) or from December 15 to 23 (for the evening Masses)

During this Mass (by privilege from the Holy See), white vestments are worn and the Gloria is sung, even on the Sunday early morning/late night Mass.

Yes there are parishes which do that. Usually in areas with a high Filipino population.

 

[FrDavid96]

Different cultures have different ways of celebrating this.

When one asks “do you do this (whatever that might be) in the U.S.?” The answer will usually be along the lines of “people who come from that part of the world keep that tradition.”

There is a sort of “universal” practice of celebrating the pre-Octave of Christmas. For example, the Advent preface changes on December 17, and the Masses are specific to each day, as opposed to 4th week of Advent. That tells us that in the mind of the Church, these 8 days have a special significance.

Several cultures have traditions for special prayers and other customs during this time.

The specific tradition of Simbang Gabi isn’t found everywhere in the U.S., but the tradition is kept by those of Philippine descent.

 

[paperwight66]

Different cultures have different ways of celebrating this.

When one asks “do you do this (whatever that might be) in the U.S.?” The answer will usually be along the lines of “people who come from that part of the world keep that tradition.”

There is a sort of “universal” practice of celebrating the pre-Octave of Christmas. For example, the Advent preface changes on December 17, and the Masses are specific to each day, as opposed to 4th week of Advent. That tells us that in the mind of the Church, these 8 days have a special significance.

Several cultures have traditions for special prayers and other customs during this time.

The specific tradition of Simbang Gabi isn’t found everywhere in the U.S., but the tradition is kept by those of Philippine descent.

Fr. David, do you know who started the tradition?

 

[FrDavid96]

Fr. David, do you know who started the tradition?

Which part specifically? or what tradition?

All I can say is that in general, there’s been a Christian tradition of a pre-octave which goes back to the days of the Roman Empire. We have post-feast octaves, so the pre-feast octaves are a sort of “balance.” In the West, we still keep the post Christmas and Easter Octaves. We used to have other octaves as well (Pentecost, Assumption, Holy Cross, etc). In the East, they didn’t experience the same drastic calendar change we had in the 1970s and they keep more of these 2-way octaves.

As for the topic of the thread, Simbang Gabi, I know very little about it; other than the generic comment to the OP that when someone asks “do you do this in the U.S.?” the general answer is “people who come from there do it.” Over the years, I’ve noticed that many different cultures have their own customs for the 8 (or so) days before Christmas.

 

[paperwight66]

Thank you for the reply, Fr David.

I meant who started the Simbag Gabi tradition specifically. I was wondering whether it was introduced by a particular missionary order, for instance, or whether it grew organically from the laity’s devotion.

 

[Sarcelle]

Thank you for the reply, Fr David.

I meant who started the Simbag Gabi tradition specifically. I was wondering whether it was introduced by a particular missionary order, for instance, or whether it grew organically from the laity’s devotion.

Let me take a stab at it.
I googled it and came up with this.
It grew during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. Due to the tropical heat during the day, farmers would rise early, work and then rest during the hottest hours. To accommodate this schedule the Church instituted predawn masses. This usually occurs nine days before Christmas.

I don’t know for sure if I am right. I got this information from Wikipedia.

 

[Phemie]

Different cultures have different ways of celebrating this.

When one asks “do you do this (whatever that might be) in the U.S.?” The answer will usually be along the lines of “people who come from that part of the world keep that tradition.”

There is a sort of “universal” practice of celebrating the pre-Octave of Christmas. For example, the Advent preface changes on December 17, and the Masses are specific to each day, as opposed to 4th week of Advent. That tells us that in the mind of the Church, these 8 days have a special significance.

Several cultures have traditions for special prayers and other customs during this time.

The specific tradition of Simbang Gabi isn’t found everywhere in the U.S., but the tradition is kept by those of Philippine descent.

I was surprised yesterday when Fr. opted for that second Advent Preface as it was a week too early. Not sure why he did that.

 

[FrDavid96]

I was surprised yesterday when Fr. opted for that second Advent Preface as it was a week too early. Not sure why he did that.

This morning, I noticed a rubric in the Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Advent. It says to use either Preface I or II of Advent—which can cause confusion because it makes it seem as if either one is an option. Only upon actually turning to the Prefaces themselves do we see the rubrics that #2 takes effect on the 17th. In other words, it’s a rather easy mistake to make.

 

[Phemie]

This morning, I noticed a rubric in the Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Advent. It says to use either Preface I or II of Advent—which can cause confusion because it makes it seem as if either one is an option. Only upon actually turning to the Prefaces themselves do we see the rubrics that #2 takes effect on the 17th. In other words, it’s a rather easy mistake to make.

Ah, yes, because the 3rd Sunday could fall in that period of Dec. 17-24. That explains it.