MISA DE GALLO: Despite the rain, Catholic faithfuls flock to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral to attend the first of the nine-day dawn Masses, or the Misa de Gallo, officiated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, on Dec. 16, 2016. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA).
As Catholics trooped to churches at the start of the Misa de Gallo on Thursday, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma called on the faithful to deepen their relationships with the Lord and to prepare spiritually for Christmas.
“We know that this (Misa de Gallo) is significant and close to the hearts of Filipinos. Let us make this a date with the Lord and Mama Mary in the spirit of eager expectation and joy,” he said in his homily at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Palma requested the people to reflect on the life and ministries in the different parishes in celebration of the Year of the Parish as declared by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
“In the parishes, there should be unity, and priests should be the center of unity and charity,” he said.
In seeking to be one with the church, Palma said people, including the clergy, should learn to accept their shortcomings and change their bad habits.
“The first step towards communion is metanoia (change of heart). Before the Lord, we are not worthy. We are weak and imperfect. We are sinners. That is why we need to repent,” the 66-year-old prelate said.
As part of returning to God, Palma encouraged Filipinos to shun division and to be united in the Lord.
“As a country, we are divided by different cultures and issues. We need a change of heart,” he said.
Renewal, he added, will lead to taking part in the Eucharist — the source and summit of Christian life.
“We need the grace of God. It is impossible to change our lives if we do not come close to the Lord. We need to be renewed in the Eucharist,” Palma said.
The Eucharist, he said, will lead people to serving each other.
“God came to serve, not to be served. Since we are given a variety of talents and gifts, then we should put them at the service of one another,” Palma said.
The traditional Misa de Gallo or nine-day dawn Masses began on Dec. 16 and would end on Dec. 24.
The tradition was introduced by Spanish friars in the 17th century in agricultural communities so that farmers could attend Mass before heading off to the fields early in the morning.
Filipinos associate the experience with cold mornings, snacks of hot chocolate and puto (rice cakes) after Mass, as well as spiritual favors for those who could complete the nine dawn Masses with special intentions.
The Vatican has granted special liturgical exemptions to the Philippines for this tradition.
While the Masses take place during the Advent season — a period of penance and anticipation — Catholic churches in the Philippines are allowed to sing the Gloria and Christmas carols during the Misa de Gallo.
The Misa de Gallo is celebrated to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, and to spiritually prepare the faithful for the birth of Jesus.
Palma has no schedule for dawn Masses on Dec. 17, 18 and 24 because he has other activities to attend.
On Dec. 19, Palma will travel to St. Pedro Calungsod Quasi-Parish in Mohon, Sogod town, north Cebu.
His other Mass schedules are as follows: Dec. 20 — Cebu Catholic Television Network, Cebu City; Dec. 21 — Archdiocesan Shrine of San Roque in Mambaling, Cebu City; Dec. 22 — San Isidro Labrador Parish in Garing, Consolacion; and Dec. 23 — San Pedro Calungsod Parish in Talamban, Cebu City.
On Christmas eve, Dec. 24, Palma will lead the Christmas Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, described as “generally peaceful” the first day of the Misa de Gallo.
He instructed all police stations and units to intensify police visibility and monitoring in all churches in the region.
He said police assistance desks will also be placed outside the churches.