aguinaldo
On Wednesday (December 16) we will start the traditional Misa de Aguinaldo or the Misa de Gallo or what the Tagalogs call Simbang Gabi and what the Capiznons call Misa Dulom. Nobody really knows exactly how this Mass started. Most probably it started in Spain near the French border as a devotion to the Birhen de la O – the pregnant soon-to-give-birth Virgin (the “O” coming from the so called “O Antiphons”, antiphons which start with “O” 7 days before Christmas.; You will hear these antiphons said during the Alleluia). It found its way to the Philippines via Mexico. It is a privilege votive mass granted as an exemption by Rome (with a so called indult) because of a pastoral need (people flock to churches in large numbers). It was granted the exemption not because of the time for the mass but because of what is done during the mass. The vestments of the priests are white (contrary to the rule of violet), the Gloria is sung (contrary to the rule suppressing the Gloria for the season of Advent) and the prayers for the mass do not follow the Advent Prayers prescribed by the Roman Sacramentary (we use instead the votive masses for the Blessed Virgin Mary or what is prescribed in the CBCP Supplementary to the Roman Missal).
(Trivia: A Cardinal-member of the Congregation for Divine Worship objected to the holding of the Aguinaldo Masses in the Philippines saying, “you Filipinos start your Christmas 9 days early,” to which a Filipino delegate promptly replied, “Your Eminence, we Filipinos do no start our Christmas 9 days early. We begin Christmas on September!”)
Filipino tradition dictates that Aguinaldo masses are very early morning masses held around 4:00 or 4:30 in the morning – at dawn to be exact. Some think that it is so to accommodate the needs of farmers who have to report to their fields early on to avoid the heat of a full sun. It is plausible but in practice (in the past, that is, which did not benefit then from two or three croppings yet), activities in the fields have already slowed down since November (except probably for the usual crop rotation of mongo which do not need that much attention compared to palay). I believe the early celebration was chosen because of two things.
First, because of the symbolism of the dawn. The whole world, including, and most especially the world of nature, is a sacrament. It points to the realities of the divine and its work in the lives of men and women. The image of dawn reflects in a very dramatic and realistic way the meaning of the birth of Jesus to us. We are a people who live and walk in darkness. We come to church finding our way in the dark but we come out of the church aided by that ever increasing light that will lead us on our way home. Jesus is the light, who according to the prophet Malachi is the Sun of Justice that will never set. In fact if one examines closely the prayer for Christmas in the Roman Sacramentary it does state directly the birth of the Lord in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, but the coming of the “true light of the world”, the “splendor of Christ our light”, filling us with the “new light” through the coming of the Words among us. (Added Trivia: do you know that Christmas in the past officially ended on February 2 [you’re right, the Fiesta of Jaro]. While holding the perdon the antiphon recalling the words of Simeon is sung, “for my eyes have seen your salvation . . . a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”) The contrast of darkness and light, the ever increasing light of dawn dramatically gives us a better appreciation of the birth of Christ on Christmas and in our individual lives.
The second is the element of sacrifice needed for every preparation. Aguinaldo is Spanish for gift. Is it an acknowledgement of the greatest gift God has given us in the person of Jesus His Son, or is it referring to our little gift to God in return for such tremendous gift of love? In both cases the element of sacrifice is emphasized. God giving the gift has made already one of His greatest sacrifices in love for us. Jesus emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of man. The cross was not only the malasakit of God for us. It may be the peak, but his conception and birth already were. Thus like all gifts, as gifts should be, the generosity was with great sacrifice.
On our part, our gift to Jesus is our Aguinaldo. Waking up early in the morning, disrupting your usual routine (come to think of it, the coming of the Lord did disrupt the usual routine of the world) is not an easy thing for most of us. It involves a sacrifice. Doing one’s duty the whole day through despite a disrupted sleeping pattern is, as it is, a whole day form of sacrifice. (That is why I really don’t like the idea of an eager Aguinaldo mass goer who would make one’s waking up early for the Aguinaldo mass an excuse for sleeping the whole day through to the neglect of one’s responsibilities! In that case one defeats the point of the sacrifice.) It is our token malasakit for God in return for his malasakit for us.
A sacrifice is always voluntary. It cannot be demanded or coerced. So for those who cannot really do it, the parish offers the Misa sa Gab-i as a spiritual preparation for Christmas. This mass is not an Aguinaldo Mass (the indult or the exemption given by Rome for Aguinaldo Masses does not apply here), but a sober Advent Mass (in contrast of the quiet festivity which characterizes the Aguinaldo masses), but with a twist of course, to make us better appreciate the new light of Christmas.
The point is, the Aguinaldo Mass is a celebration of generosity. The generosity of God which knows no bounds, and a celebration of that capacity for generosity of a people redeemed with so much love. This is the reason why we as a parish chose to launch our Kabalaka Project during these celebrations. It is to tap that hidden and unexpressed generosity for which we are truly capable of, so that we can as a parish provide work and livelihood for the poor and needy among us. During these days, the priests of the cathedral will explain to us this program and in the spirit of the Aguinaldo, inspired by God’s gift of self, we would appeal for your generous help – not for us, but for our brothers and sisters in need.
(Trivia: A Cardinal-member of the Congregation for Divine Worship objected to the holding of the Aguinaldo Masses in the Philippines saying, “you Filipinos start your Christmas 9 days early,” to which a Filipino delegate promptly replied, “Your Eminence, we Filipinos do no start our Christmas 9 days early. We begin Christmas on September!”)
Filipino tradition dictates that Aguinaldo masses are very early morning masses held around 4:00 or 4:30 in the morning – at dawn to be exact. Some think that it is so to accommodate the needs of farmers who have to report to their fields early on to avoid the heat of a full sun. It is plausible but in practice (in the past, that is, which did not benefit then from two or three croppings yet), activities in the fields have already slowed down since November (except probably for the usual crop rotation of mongo which do not need that much attention compared to palay). I believe the early celebration was chosen because of two things.
First, because of the symbolism of the dawn. The whole world, including, and most especially the world of nature, is a sacrament. It points to the realities of the divine and its work in the lives of men and women. The image of dawn reflects in a very dramatic and realistic way the meaning of the birth of Jesus to us. We are a people who live and walk in darkness. We come to church finding our way in the dark but we come out of the church aided by that ever increasing light that will lead us on our way home. Jesus is the light, who according to the prophet Malachi is the Sun of Justice that will never set. In fact if one examines closely the prayer for Christmas in the Roman Sacramentary it does state directly the birth of the Lord in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, but the coming of the “true light of the world”, the “splendor of Christ our light”, filling us with the “new light” through the coming of the Words among us. (Added Trivia: do you know that Christmas in the past officially ended on February 2 [you’re right, the Fiesta of Jaro]. While holding the perdon the antiphon recalling the words of Simeon is sung, “for my eyes have seen your salvation . . . a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”) The contrast of darkness and light, the ever increasing light of dawn dramatically gives us a better appreciation of the birth of Christ on Christmas and in our individual lives.
The second is the element of sacrifice needed for every preparation. Aguinaldo is Spanish for gift. Is it an acknowledgement of the greatest gift God has given us in the person of Jesus His Son, or is it referring to our little gift to God in return for such tremendous gift of love? In both cases the element of sacrifice is emphasized. God giving the gift has made already one of His greatest sacrifices in love for us. Jesus emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of man. The cross was not only the malasakit of God for us. It may be the peak, but his conception and birth already were. Thus like all gifts, as gifts should be, the generosity was with great sacrifice.
On our part, our gift to Jesus is our Aguinaldo. Waking up early in the morning, disrupting your usual routine (come to think of it, the coming of the Lord did disrupt the usual routine of the world) is not an easy thing for most of us. It involves a sacrifice. Doing one’s duty the whole day through despite a disrupted sleeping pattern is, as it is, a whole day form of sacrifice. (That is why I really don’t like the idea of an eager Aguinaldo mass goer who would make one’s waking up early for the Aguinaldo mass an excuse for sleeping the whole day through to the neglect of one’s responsibilities! In that case one defeats the point of the sacrifice.) It is our token malasakit for God in return for his malasakit for us.
A sacrifice is always voluntary. It cannot be demanded or coerced. So for those who cannot really do it, the parish offers the Misa sa Gab-i as a spiritual preparation for Christmas. This mass is not an Aguinaldo Mass (the indult or the exemption given by Rome for Aguinaldo Masses does not apply here), but a sober Advent Mass (in contrast of the quiet festivity which characterizes the Aguinaldo masses), but with a twist of course, to make us better appreciate the new light of Christmas.
The point is, the Aguinaldo Mass is a celebration of generosity. The generosity of God which knows no bounds, and a celebration of that capacity for generosity of a people redeemed with so much love. This is the reason why we as a parish chose to launch our Kabalaka Project during these celebrations. It is to tap that hidden and unexpressed generosity for which we are truly capable of, so that we can as a parish provide work and livelihood for the poor and needy among us. During these days, the priests of the cathedral will explain to us this program and in the spirit of the Aguinaldo, inspired by God’s gift of self, we would appeal for your generous help – not for us, but for our brothers and sisters in need.
Comments