Mass to mark 40th day since Cardinal Vidal’s death to be held on Nov. 27

VIDAL

THE Holy Mass to mark the 40th day since Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has passed away will be celebrated tomorrow (Monday, Nov. 27) instead of today (Sunday, Nov. 26).

Today, Sunday, is the 40th day since the prelate died, but it is also the celebration of the Feast of Christ the King, which marks the last day of the church’s liturgical calendar, a church event that cannot be moved to another day.

The announcement to move the celebration of the Holy Mass marking the 40th day since the death of Cardinal Vidal was published in the “Lungsoranon,” the newsletter of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

The Lungsoranon said the church would celebrate on Sunday the Feast of Christ the King to mark the last day of the church’s liturgical year.

“Ug sa samtang ang tukmang petsa sa Cuarenta Dias gikan sa kamatayon ni Cardinal Vidal mahitunong unta sa petsa 26 ning bulana, gisibog kini sa pagka-sunod adlaw tungod kay ang Nob. 26 mao man ang dakong kasaulogan sa Solemnidad sa Cristo Rey, nga dili kahulipan og linain ug buwag nga liturhikang kasaulogan,” said the Archdiocese of Cebu.

(While the exact date of the 40th day since Cardinal Vidal’s death falls on the 26th of this month, it [the Mass to mark this day] had been moved to the next day [Nov. 27] because Nov. 26 is the grand celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King, a liturgical celebration that cannot be moved to another date.)

Devotees from across Cebu are expected to join the church in celebrating the Feast of Christ the King today.

Cebuanos (above photo) wave at the casket containing the body of the late Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal during the procession to his final resting place at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral mausoleum in late October. Today, Nov. 26, is the 40th day since the death of Cardinal Vidal (at left).
CDN FILE PHOTOS

On Monday, Nov. 27, a Mass would be celebrated to mark the 40th day since the death of Cardinal Vidal at 1 p.m. at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and would be celebrated by Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo.

Aside from that, the Archdiocese of Cebu also encouraged parish priests to hold Masses to mark this day in their respective churches.

After being admitted for six days in Perpetual Succour Hospital following difficulties in breathing and high fever, the beloved prelate succumbed to his sickness on the morning of October 18 at the age of 86.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who earlier presided over the Novena Masses nine days before the 40th day of the Cardinal’s death, cannot officiate this Monday’s Holy Mass since he is expected to fly to Myanmar today for the visit of Pope Francis.

In an earlier interview, he said he was personally invited by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon in Myanmar, who was also the papal legate to the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) which was held in Cebu in January 2016.

Cebu Daily News tried to reach Msgr. Joseph Tan, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Cebu, and Msgr. Ruben Labajo, team moderator of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, on further details about this Monday’s Mass, but any attempts were futile.

Vidal’s death meant the loss not only for the Roman Catholic clergy in Cebu but also the faithful who attested to his selflessness and love to everyone.

His remains were buried in the Cathedral’s mausoleum, along with other deceased church leaders in Cebu, on October 26 in which the Malacañang declared it as a special holiday for Cebuanos to pay their last respects to the cardinal.