VATICAN CITY, JULY 8, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI announced new norms that will allow the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope John XXIII in 1962 to be used as an extraordinary form of the liturgical celebration.

The priests who use the Latin-language 1962 Roman Missal, however, "must be qualified to do so and not juridically impeded." Priests are also allowed to use the Roman Breviary promulgated by John XXIII in 1962.

The papal directives state that for "such celebrations, with either one missal or the other, the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his ordinary," and that lay faithful may attend.

The Mass according to the 1962 missal is also allowed for "communities of institutes of consecrated life and of societies of apostolic life, of either pontifical or diocesan right."

In Masses said according to the 1962 missal, "the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognized by the Apostolic See."

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As the dawn of 2010 is seen little by little, it is a sign of great hope for the world, for our country, for the families and individuals, but most of all for our Confraternity. For six years, we travelled as one community, though diverse in ministry, living as brothers in separate places, and busy with study and work, I could say that no one can hinder us from the love of God and the graces of being a firm Confraternity.

This year 2010, I invite you, my brothers, together with our Scholars and Cooperators, to celebrate this year as a year dedicated to Mary. We look at her, follow her, and entrust all that we are to her. Not only is she the Mother and Queen of All Saints, but she is our Mother, the Mother of the Confraternity of Catholic Saints! With her and through her, we know that everything will be possible – that all of us will be holy. I also want to dedicate two consecutive years as to start a new chapter in our brotherhood’s history, a step of being a religious institute of brothers.

First, I wish to dedicate 2010 as a year of Holiness. We, as brothers, must strive to be holy by all means. It is through our perseverance that the grace of God will be bestowed upon us and our community. We need to commit ourselves more to our mission and our ministry guided and firmed by our vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty. On October 1, 2010, we will gather as a community, as brothers, to report all what have done and to renew our vows and profession. Year 2011 will be a year of Renewal. A renewal that is not only of our own application of our spirituality but also a renewal of what must be done in our Confraternity. At the final quarter of this year, we start the reconstruction of our Constitution and By-laws, we hope that by the year 2011, all is ready and be presented to the Church. We aim that on October 1, 2011, the Confraternity of Catholic Saints will be an established religious institute of brothers.

We know that everything is possible with God that is why we all do this for his greater glory and for our holiness. We again look and cling to our Mother Mary, whom we dedicate our year 2010. Through her, the Confraternity of Catholic Saints will be a beacon of holiness in the world especially in our local Church and in the heart of young people.

“O Mary, Mother and Queen of all Saints, you are the Mother and Queen of the Confraternity of Catholic Saints, pray for us! Guide us! Help us to be faithful to our mission. Help us to be true to our vows. Everything we do and dream be protected by you, and be for the greater glory of God and for our sanctification. Amen.”

In Holiness,

FRA. DAVE CEASAR F. DELA CRUZ, CCS
Director

St. Francis of Assisi once said; “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

In 1993 Thomas Serafin created Saints Alive, the first website on the worldwide web devoted to the preservation / veneration of first and second-class religious relics and the education of the faithful.

Because of the great interest throughout the United States and Europe it was believed to be beneficial and appropriate to establish an international movement for the propagation of the preservation and veneration of relics. The commonality of the organization was to be centered on the desire expressed by the faithful, to have a central source of educational information and a governing official office. This was the beginning of the International Crusade for Holy Relics (ICHRusa).

The ICHRusa spent over ten years battling the sale of relics on the Internet. Being a pioneer in the safeguarding of the historical remains of the saints; the ICHRusa was directly responsible for combating the abuse through the use of the media, reeducating relic sellers and buyers, and helping the Internet ISP’s reevaluate their practices.

During an exhibit of relics from his private collection at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Museum in Glendale, California (November - January 2002), a number of individuals offered financial and professional assistance in support of efforts to exhibit, promote, and preserve the collection. Desiring to take full advantage of these offers of assistance, Mr. Serafin developed the concept of a non-profit organization, the Apostolate for Holy Relics, which would utilize the collection, along with the talents and resources of many individuals, to increase appreciation of the spiritual, historical, and artistic value of relics, to promote the devotional veneration

This was the birth of the Apostolate for Holy Relics ( www.relictour.org) , a Calif. 501c3 non-profit, tax-exempt corp. The AHR has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in a nationwide series of retreats and relic tours. The AHR has been sanctioned as an “Official Catholic Apostolate” by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and its efforts have been recognized by the Church hierarchy across the United States.

In light of the renascence in relic veneration and the resurgence of interest, the ICHR has been reorganized into a membership and informational center for the education and veneration of the remains of the saints. The primary mission of the ICHR is to build a foundation upon the saints for the youth of the Catholic Church.

His devotion to the propagation of proper veneration of relics and the education of the faithful has awarded him the honor of being Knighted in; the Order of Immaculate Conception of Vila Vicosa, Knight of Merit – Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George – U.S. Delegation, Knight Commander of St. Michael of the Wing by HRH Dom Duarte Braganca, and the Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam as Liasion to HIH Prince Buu Chanh of Vietnam for Relics of Vietnamese Catholic Saints.

Theologically, the liturgical year is the celebration of the memory of Christ’s paschal mystery every week or Sunday and once a year during the Easter Triduum. It unfolds the mystery of Christ from his incarnation to his second coming. The liturgical constitution clearly defines as the theological content of the liturgical year the saving work of Christ, the mystery of redemption, the whole paschal mystery of Christ, which the Church celebrates every eighth day and in the course of the liturgical year, and proclaims during the feasts of the BVM and the saints.[1] From these conciliar texts we may say that the whole paschal mystery, which enfolds the whole mystery of Christ from his incarnation to Pentecost and his second coming, permeates the entire liturgical year. Thus, the paschal mystery of Christ serves as the axis around which revolves the liturgical year. All liturgical feasts, inclusive of those commemorating the various aspects of Christ’s life as Christmas and Easter, center on this same mystery.

     Our Filipino celebrations of the liturgical year reflect forms of popular religiosity that have arisen and been accepted throughout the ages. They are a sure sign of the extent to which the faith has taken root in the hearts of our people and of its influence on the daily lives of the faithful. Regarded as a treasure of the Church, our popular pious exercises allow our people to express our faith and our relationship with God and Providence, with Our Lady and the Saints, with neighbors, with the dead, with creation and strengthens membership of the Church.[2] They are a testimony of the faith of the simple of heart, underlining the one or the other accent without pretending to embrace the whole content of the Christian faith. Our popular religiosity is a living reality in and of the Church; its source is the constant presence of the Spirit in ecclesial communities; its reference point, the mystery of Christ; its object, the glory of God and the salvation of man; and its historical moment, the joyous encounter of the work of evangelization and culture.[3]  The Church, for her part, does “respect and foster the qualities and talents of the various races and nations. Anything in these people’s way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error, she studies with sympathy, and, if possible, preserves intact. She sometimes even admits such things into the liturgy itself, provided they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit”.[4] If, on the one hand, popular religiosity must not take the place of liturgy, liturgy, on the other hand, does not eliminate the other forms of expressing the faith in Christ the Savior.[5] Likewise, it is important to recall that popular religiosity finds its natural crowning in liturgical celebration, toward which it has to be ideally oriented, even if habitually it does not flow into it.[6]   

     Our [Catholic] religious culture began with the coming of the Spanish missionaries. The Philippines as a former colony of Spain shares and preserves faithfully much of its colonizers’ religious traditions, putting on local color and character. For example, we have what the Spaniards called “Misa de Aguinaldo”, which we would call “Simbang Gabi” culminating with the “Panuluyan” held immediately before the Christmas Midnight Mass. This form of religiosity is still very much alive in our midst nowadays.

     Whenever the “-ber” months of the year set in, for us Christmas is so close and for some it has in fact come. That is why everywhere you will hear Christmas carols being played and the Christmas spirit dominating the air. Everyone, not only children, begin to flock to malls and shopping centers to buy Christmas decors and ornaments to adorn their houses; these include Christmas trees, star-shaped lanterns (“parol”) and cribs (“belen”). The spirit is very much in contrast with the Advent liturgy, which, though its mood is one of joyful expectation, yet calls for restraint in the use of “Gloria”, musical instruments, ornamentations; the use of purple vestment reminds us also of exercising some restraints in our liturgical celebrations.

     Every year, from December 16 to 24, parish churches and barangay chapels teem with people from all walks of life for a pious exercise that has become so popular among Filipino Catholics all over the world.[7] This form of popular piety is known as “Misa de Aguinaldo”, also called “Simbang Gabi”.[8] It is a novena of Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Expectant Mother of God, and in preparation for the commemoration of the birth of our Savior.[9] This popular religious custom is considered among the oldest and the most venerable religious traditions in our country. In contrast to the sober character of the Advent liturgy, these Masses are festive in character and are said with special solemnity: the “Gloria” and, before, also “Credo” as well as Christmas carols, are sung even on the 3^rd and 4^th Sundays of Advent (but only during the Misa de Aguinaldo), white vestments are used even on Sunday, the church and sanctuary are festively decorated, and approved musical instruments are played.[10] Nowadays, if any of these days fall on Sunday, the Mass formularies and readings are those of Sunday.[11] The intention for the celebration of the “Misa de Aguinaldo” is: “pro constantia Indorum in fide et pro religionis conservatione in his partibus, quae causa gravissima sane et pubblica est; quippe maxima est ratio quae pro Religione militat”.[12] It is to be noted that, for our people, the celebration of the nativity of our Lord commences with these dawn Masses from December 16 onward.

     From the historical perspective, the First Plenary Council of the Philippines, in 1953, applied for a papal indult under the following 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[13] is sung especially in parish and convent churches, but only once a day with great solemnity and with a big attendance of the faithful”.[14] With the promulgation of the 1960 Code of Rubrics, the Philippine Hierarchy, under its president Archbishop Julio Rosales of Cebu, wasted no time and decided to elevate in the same year to the Holy Father a suppliant letter “humbly asking that, in spite of the promulgation of the new Code of Rubrics, and for as long as the same grave reason, namely the conservation of the Faith [in the Philippines] continued, the Aguinaldo Masses be allowed to be sung for nine days preceding the Nativity”.[15] On 24 March 1961, the petition was granted for a period of five years. Until today, the Philippine Church continues to cling strongly to centuries-old tradition of celebrating the “Aguinaldo Masses”, with undiminished attendance and festive joy, for the same reasons adduced in ancient times, but with some changes and trends caused by the changing lifestyle and circumstances in our society. We refer to the time and places of their celebration. Some Masses are now being celebrated in the evening, and not only in churches and chapels, but also in malls and commercial centers.

    Regarding the propriety of celebrating the “Aguinaldo Masses”, with all its elements, in the evening and even more than once in a parish church due to the great magnitude in number and massive attendance of people, let me share with you the following considerations:

1.    In places where the “Misa de Aguinaldo” or “Simbang Gabi” begins on December 15 and is celebrated in the evening, which formulary are we going to use?

Since “Misa de Aguinaldo” or “Simbang Gabi” is a form of Filipino popular religiosity or popular devotion expressed not in novena of devotional prayers but in the liturgy, there is no reason why elements (“Gloria”, festive celebration, white vestment, et al.) of the “Simbang Gabi” may not be availed of. In fact, these “Misas de Aguinaldo” were tolerated since they were regarded as a popular devotion, not only in preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s nativity, but also in honor of the Blessed Mother.

There is only one restriction though: no anticipation of weekday Masses. For December 15, therefore, the Mass formulary (prayers and readings) proper to the day is to be used.  

2.  Could we anticipate the “Aguinaldo Masses” on weekdays?

We do not anticipate any Mass except Masses on Sundays, holy days of obligation, or solemnities which have their own Vigil Mass and Evening Prayer I. Therefore, Masses on ordinary days or week days are not anticipated. Hence, the formulary to be used for December 15 onward is the formulary (i.e., the texts of the prayers and readings) proper to the day.

3.    Does the reason given with regard to the celebration of the “Aguinaldo Masses” in the Philippines, that is, for the perseverance of the nation in faith and the preservation of our holy religion in this part of the world, still hold? Is it still valid?

In the affirmative. There is also a school of thought which holds that if these Masses were celebrated at dawn to allow farmers to participate in these Masses before they go to work in the fields, there is no reason why the same could not be applied to people who have to leave their homes early in the morning for work in the offices, schools, etc.

4.    Rubrics regarding “Aguinaldo Masses” at Dawn: 

a.  For the Mass formulary, use the Common of the BVM in Advent (“Rorate Coeli Desuper”), Gloria, Advent Preface II [I], white vestments.

The Supplement to the Roman Sacramentary provides us with the Mass formulary (liturgical texts), both the texts of the prayers and the Scriptural readings, for ach day of the “Simbang Gabi”. It likewise says that, at these Masses, the “Gloria” is sung on the 3^rd and 4^th Sundays of Advent, white vestments are used even on Sunday, the church and sanctuary are festively decorated, and approved musical instruments are played, but only for the “Aguinaldo Mass” of that day.

b.  The CBCP has also approved to permanently assign to December 16 the readings for Friday of the Third Week of Advent:  Is 56: 1-3, 6-8 and Jn 5: 33-36. On the other hand, the Ordo says that “in the spirit of the season, one may lawfully use in these Masses the Weekday Lectionary” (Roman Missal, General Guidelines 328).

5.    Regarding celebrating more than one “Aguinaldo Mass” in a parish church especially in highly urbanized places (which do not have any other church or chapels to celebrate the said Mass) due to the magnitude in number of people attending or participating in the Mass which the church building may not be able to accommodate, there is no reason why this may not be allowed. It is to be noted that one of the considerations for the granting (to both Spain and the Philippines) of the indult to celebrate this Mass is the massive and undiminished attendance of people.  

6.    Christmas Liturgies in the Absence of a Priest: One of the impressive expressions of Filipino Catholic faith is the practice of novena Masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Misa de Aguinaldo, Simbang Gabi, or Aguinaldo Masses) traditionally held at dawn from December 16 to 24. In order not to deprive the faithful who live far away from the parish church of the spiritual benefits derived from the practice of “Simbang Gabi”, the CBCP has found it opportune and legitimate to introduce, since 1997, “Christmas Liturgies in the Absence of a Priest”, similar to the “Sunday Assembly in the Absence of a Priest”. This rite is offered as a guide for the proper observance of such a celebration. It is, however, understood that the norms issued by the Holy See and the local Ordinary on the “Sunday Assembly in the Absence of a Priest” apply in this Christmas liturgy with equal force. Likewise, the Philippine Bishops have also granted its seal of approval for the faithful to sing the “Gloria” on the Third and Fourth Sundays of Advent, but only during the “Simbang Gabi” Masses and the “Christmas Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest”.

7.    During the “Simbang Gabi” Masses and “Christmas Liturgies in the Absence of a Priest” may Christmas carols be sung?

In the affirmative, since for Filipinos Christmas begins not at the Midnight Mass of December 24, but at the start of the “Simbang Gabi”. The Alcina report likewise tells us that even Christmas carols were sung at the “Misa de Aguinaldo” in the Visayas and perhaps even in Manila where he had stayed for a total of four years during his ministry in the Philippines.  

Prepared by:

FR, VIRGILIO B. HERNANDEZ
Immaculate Conception Parish
Malvar, Batangas

[15] Cf. Ibid., pp. 470-471.

Attention High School ICCSians...

BLESSING BEFORE EXAMINATIONS Schedule at the Chapel:

October 13, 2009, Tuesday. Lunch Time.
Blessing of Exam Materials (Pencil, Ballpen, etc.) and examinees.

October 14, 2009, Wednesday. 6:45AM.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and blessing of examinees.

Come and be blessed by the Lord, the source of wisdom and knowledge.

... go and spread the news!

Attention ICCSIANS!

Starting tomorrow, September 30-October 2, 2009 you can now send your donations:

FOOD (Canned goods, instant noodles, rice), BOTTLED WATER, CLOTHES, BLANKETS, etc. to our school for the victims.

For more info you may contact me 09228758785. Please tell your parents, relatives and friends. Volunteers welcome!