Cebuanos come in droves for Simbang Gabi
THOUSANDS of Catholics flocked to various churches in Cebu in yesterday’s opening of the nine-day Misa de Gallo, an annual tradition in the runup to Christmas.
At the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City, parish priest Msgr. Adelito Abella said the celebration honors Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. He urged the faithful to intensify their devotion to the rosary.
Abella said praying the rosary helps the Church address threats against the Catholic faith such as the proposed Reproductive Health bill.
The National Shrine of St. Joseph also houses the image of the pregnant Mary who is seated on a donkey.
St. Joseph is standing ahead of the donkey pulling it with a rope.
The manger is left vacant, surrounnded by animal figures.
The baby Jesus will be added on Christmas eve.
Misa de Gallo, which in Spanish means “Mass of the rooster,” consists of nine-day votive dawn Masses in preparation for Christmas.
The annual Filipino tradition begins on Dec. 16 and ends on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve.
The practice was introduced by Spanish friars so that farmers may hear Mass before going to the fields early in the morning. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol
