Manila archbishop allows 'anticipated' Simbang Gabi

The Manila Archdiocese said it will allow the celebration of “anticipated" Simbang Gabi (dawn Masses) from December 15 to 23. However, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales reminded Catholics that the evening Sunday Mass on December 19 will not count as “anticipated" dawn Mass for Monday, December 20. “We will allow the practice of these ‘anticipated’ Simbang Gabi Masses. However, please take note that Sunday evening Masses could not ‘anticipate’ the Simbang Gabi for the following day," Rosales said in a circular posted on Monday on the Manila Archdiocese website. "The practice of ‘anticipated’ Simbang Gabi Masses is already a pastoral accommodation. The Sundays of Advent take precedence over the weekdays of Advent. This norm could be ignored on account of any pastoral reason," he added. Rosales asked priests and religious workers in the archdiocese to make the “necessary adjustments." “Kindly make the necessary adjustments and provide the necessary explanation to our people," he said. He issued the clarification after the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission (ALC) received several inquiries about the so-called “anticipated" Simbang Gabi Masses. The “Simbang Gabi" is a Filipino tradition where the faithful attend dawn Masses on the nine consecutive days leading to December 25, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. –VVP, GMANews.TV