The Masses celebrated in the Philippines in the early hours of the morning, usually at 4 a.m., for the nine days immediately before Christmas, has many names, most used interchangeably.
In Filipino it is called “Simbang Gabi” (Mass at Night), although strictly speaking this refers to Christmas Midnight Mass. In Spanish it is called “Misa de Gallo” or Mass when the rooster crows, also used for the midnight Mass.
“Misa de Aguinaldo” is the more appropriate term used in church documents in the Philippines. This is literally the Mass of Gift, which refers to God’s gift of his incarnate son.
In my own Philippines hometown of Badoc, Ilocos Norte, we call it “Misa Lukag,” or a Mass where one wakes up in the wee hours of the morning to offer prayers and praises to God as a preparation of Christmas.
The dawn Mass as a preparation for Christmas is a very dear and important part of Philippine religious tradition. For nine days, crowds of Filipino Catholics are drawn to their churches for the celebration of the Eucharist. Even big churches are filled and many Mass-goers sacrifice by standing for the duration of the Mass. St. Joseph Church in Waipahu would be an example.
According to Dominican historian Father Fidel Villaroel of the University of St. Tomas in Manila, the Misa de Aguinaldo started in Spain sometime in the 16th century. It reached Mexico and eventually the Philippines. The Philippines were colonized and evangelized by Spain through Mexico for 250 years.
Jesuit historian and chronicler Francisco de Alcina found accounts of the Misa de Aguinaldo in the early years of the 17th century. This tradition not only survived the test of time but has spread far and wide gaining its own identity.
The dawn Masses are votive masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary asking the intercession of the Mother of God for the perseverance of the Filipino people and the preservation of the Catholic faith in the archipelago. In some areas in the Philippines, the singing of a Marian recessional hymn had survived. White vestments were used and the singing of the Gloria was commonplace. Before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council it was normal to use the music of the “Misa Pastorella,” which has a joyful touch. Indeed, the dawn Masses had the trimmings of Christmas because in many areas traditional Christmas carols were sung.
With the liturgical reform of Vatican II, the Philippines got an indult from the Vatican to continue with the practice of the Misa de Aguinaldo, celebrated before daybreak, using white vestments, and even on the Sundays that fall within Dec. 16 and Dec. 24. The Gloria is sung and the Credo in some areas is also sung. The formulary for the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent in the Roman Missal is used. And on Dec. 16, the readings for Friday of the third week of Advent are used. This has a more direct connection to the second part of Advent, which starts on Dec. 17.
The introduction of the Misa Aguinaldo in many parishes in the Diocese of Honolulu is a giant step in welcoming a very dear part of Filipino religious tradition. But it will be a quantum leap for the recognition of a people’s uniquely Catholic culture if the spirit of the Aguinaldo Masses is practiced: white vestments, the Gloria and a more festive music.
Asking for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for perseverance of the faithful and the preservation of the Catholic faith is universal. This is also quite meaningful for the Diocese of Honolulu. After all, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the patroness of the United States of America, and Mary under her title of Our Lady of Peace is guardian of this particular church.
This may be allegorical and symbolic, but in the dawn Masses we accompany the Blessed Virgin Mary in expecting the Incarnation of the eternal light, the true Sun. The Masses recall the words of St. Luke’s Canticle of Zechariah: “The dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell darkness in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
