Prayers for nine mornings

CEBU, Philippines - The offering of the dawn Masses is our expression of filial devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. "For nine consecutive days, we join and accompany her, so to speak, as she awaits the birth of her Son," explains former Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales in one of his letters to the churches.

Entitled "Guidelines on the celebration of Simbang Gabi," Arch. Rosales issued the letter to guide Roman Catholics how to properly observe this supposed holy occasion:

• GREAT GIFT. The tradition was brought to us by Spanish evangelizers from Mexico. Originally, it popularly came to be known as Misa de Aguinaldo which means gift, as gift is peculiar to Christmas. That is why, the faithful wake up early morning for nine days before Christmas to join in the celebration of the dawn Mass. The faithful make this their "aguinaldo" to God for the great gift of Jesus. The practice can also be understood as the preparation of the faithful to receive from God the great gift or "aguinaldo" of Christmas, which is Jesus, the Savior of the world.

On the first morn, PRAY that you will be able to reflect on the gifts the Magis lavished on the infant Jesus – tangible acknowledgments of his greatness, perfect symbols of his place in the history of Christianity. A devotional guide written by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda directs us to praise God for his generosity. Going back to the story of Solomon, what can you lavish on the One who is far greater than he? We can be generous with our praise, telling God everything we love about Him. We can be generous with our time, going out of our way to help those in need. We can be generous with our trust, acting and praying in a way that shows our confidence in God's goodness and power. We can be generous with our money, giving what we can from our small hoard.

• SOLEMN VOTIVE MASS. Throughout the centuries, the celebration of Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo has been preserved, enriched and sustained by our people in spite of the pastoral and liturgical challenges it underwent. Its form of celebration today is the effect of the long history of this celebration. It was at the First Plenary Council of the Philippines in 1953 that a formal petition to Rome was made for Simbang Gabi. The Papal Indult with these conditions: "On the nine days preceding the Nativity of our Lord, i.e., from December 16 to 24, the solemn votive Mass Rorate Coeli Desuper is sung especially in parish and convent churches, but only once a day with great solemnity and with a big attendance of the faithful."  (Acta et Decreta Primi Concilii Plenarii Ins. Phil, 1953, n. 356: J. Ylla, OP, Indultos y Privilegios de Filipinas, UST Press, 1940, p. 24.)

PRAY for God's directions. On the second day, reflect on 1 Samuel 28:3-25 and praise God for protecting us against evil. The Spangler-Syswerda guide reads: Sometimes we expose ourselves to the occult naively - reading horoscopes in the daily paper, consulting a medium on a whim, or thinking tarot cards simply as an innocent game. At other times our interest is more serious, based on a desire for knowledge, healing, or power over others and ourselves. Too many people pretend to promise financial health and security, even using the name of God, to advance their personal intentions, when only in Jesus can one be secured. If you have ever dabbled in the occult, now is the time to come clean before God. On the second morning, we are guided to express our sorrow and our resolve to follow God by removing from our home anything remotely related to the occult.

• WHETHER EVENING OR DAWN. The practice of Simbang Gabi, whether ironically at dawn, or in the evening, is still highly encouraged because it is a great source of spiritual nourishment to our faithful. Pastors and collaborators in the pastoral care of our Christian communities are urged to help in observing faithfully the Indult given to us and keep from abuses and misinterpretation this venerable Filipino tradition.

PRAY that we trust always in the love of God. Reflect on Genesis 21:8-21. Praise God because He is an all-knowing Father who hears the cries of his children. Nothing that happens to us can ever escape his notice. Offer thanks that the Lord runs after the weak and the helpless, most especially the victims of disasters and calamities, to show them his mercy and his plan of blessing for their lives. Confess of any pride, selfishness, or other sin that may have contributed to your present circumstances, and ask God to open your eyes to the way he is protecting and providing for us and our children. Ask him to help us live each day, not as a slave to the law but as a child of grace.

• MISA DE AGUINALDO. From the beginning, the Simbang Gabi has always been celebrated at an early hour, from 4 to 5 a.m. It is this Mass alone that is considered Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo. Other Masses celebrated during the nine days before Christmas are celebrated as Masses of the Advent season, and should follow the norms of the liturgy of the Advent season. If the Misa de Aguinaldo is celebrated from 8 p.m. onwards, it should be motivated by genuine pastoral care for the spiritual benefit of the faithful.

PRAY on the fourth morning for God's mercy. Reflect on Genesis 19:1-26. Praise God for though he hates sin he also loves mercy. Offer thanks for ways that God has shown mercy to us and to members of our family. Confess any tendency to ignore God's voice because you prefer to go your own way. Ask God for the grace never to become rigid because of our attachments to materialism.

• LITURGY OF THE SUNDAY. When Simbang Gabi is celebrated in the evening of Saturday and Sunday, one should take the liturgy of the Sunday. It should be noted that Sunday evening Mass should not anticipate the weekday Mass of the following day. White vestments are used, the Gloria is sung, and musical instruments accompany the singing during the Simbang Gabi of Saturday evening, dawn of Sunday and Sunday evening.

PRAY hard on the fifth morning. Spangler-Syswerda guide reminds that in a society like ours, it's rare to find someone who isn't attached to creature comforts. We have to test our own level of attachment by taking a retreat from shopping malls, from mobile phones, from parties, televisions, cinemas, newspapers, magazines, catalogs. Instead, carve out a time and place in your home, even if it's only a few minutes in a small corner or a closet, for silent prayer and praise. Pray that He reveal any disordered attachments or rigidity that may have developed in your own spirit. Tell him you want to be a person who is free and flexible enough to respond quickly to his direction.

• For the Mass formulary of the weekday Simbang Gabi, the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Advent (Rorate Coeli Desuper), should be used with Gloria, Advent Preface II, white vestment. The Supplement to the Roman Sacramentary gives us the Mass texts, for the prayers and the readings. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has approved that the readings for the December 16 Simbang Gabi are from the Friday of the Third Week of Advent.

PRAY to be as obedient as Mary. Reflect on Luke 1:26-38 and praise God that nothing is impossible with him. Imagine yourself in Mary's place. What are your struggles and joys? What thoughts run through your mind? Does anything or anyone take you by surprise? On the sixth morning, ask the Holy Spirit to guide your reflections, to help you imagine the sounds, sights, and smells that will bring each scene to life. Let the Scriptures feed your soul with a deeper understanding of God's intention for your life. Pray for the grace to be like the woman who said: I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

• PLACE OF WORSHIP. The ordinary place for the celebration of the Simbang Gabi Masses is the parochial church. Chapels, which are duly recognized within the jurisdiction of the parish church, are given permission to celebrate Simbang Gabi only with the consent of the parish priest and in coordination with the parish. Simbang Gabi may not be celebrated in malls or shopping centers, unless there is a chapel in the establishment, where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated with frequency and duly approved by the Archdiocese. Simbang Gabi celebrated in corridors and hallways of shopping malls is not allowed, where the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is needlessly exposed to shoppers that are indifferent to the celebration.

PRAY that we value everything about Sunday service - from how we dress to how we worship. Too many people devalue the Eucharistic celebration by dressing up as if they would just be taking a stroll at the park or go malling --- short shorts, spaghetti straps, cargo pants, etc. Our Lord, Our God deserves our best on a Sunday. If we can fix ourselves properly to welcome ordinary guests, why can't we do the same to meet The Bridegroom? On the seventh morning, reflect on 1 Samuel 19:11-17 and 2 Samuel 6:16-23. Praise God for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Offer thanks that God gives us the freedom to choose how we will respond to him. Ask God to increase our awe of Him. We are told to go ahead, enjoy ourselves in God's presence, if He's not worth getting excited about, who is?

• JESUS, OUR SUPPOSED SOLE WISH. As we prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ through the unique Filipino Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi, faith and devotion to Mary, the Mother of God and the Mother of the Filipino nation, should inspire us to receive in our hearts and home God's surpassing Aguinaldo in the person of Jesus Christ.

On the eighth morning, reflect on Mark 5:21-34. Praise God that his touch produces peace and freedom. Offer thanks that faith is a gift that increases with use. Trying to live the Christian life without faith may be likened to flying an airplane with foot pedals. It doesn't nourish you, never thrills you, and won't get you anywhere. Pray that our heart will always crave for Jesus as the only One who can heal our physical and spiritual ailments.

And on the ninth morning, pray for wisdom. Reflect on Proverbs 3:13-18. Praise God for his wisdom which far surpasses anything we might imagine. Offer thanks that true wisdom has nothing to do with intellectual ability but everything to do with humble dependence on God. One can be smart as a whip but still full of foolishness. Blessed is he who has found wisdom. He has found something more precious than gold. None of his desires can compare with wisdom. For wisdom brings life, wealth, honor, and peace. Wisdom is a tree of life to be gladly embraced.