TOMORROW marks the start of the traditional nine days of dawn Masses that lead to Christmas eve.
The Misa de Gallo or Mass of the Rooster is celebrated only in the Philippnes now and nowhere else in the world, Msgr. Esteban Binghay, Cebu episcopal vicar.
“Only the Philippines continues to practice the Misa de Gallo. Although there are novena Masses for Christmas in Rome, they are not conducted at dawn. The Misa de Gallo is not even practiced in Spain,” he said.
The Misa de Gallo dates back to the 17th century when missionary priests offered dawn Masses to allow farmers to go to church before tilling their fields.
Over the years, the beloved tradition has become associated with cool dawn weather, and snacks of hot chocolate and “puto” after church.
The Misa de Gallo is celebrated to honor the Virgin Mary and to spiritually prepare the faithful for the birthday of Jesus, said Binghay.
Many mistakenly call it Simbang Gabi, which actually refers to the evening or midnight Mass on Dec. 24, he added.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma will visit four churches and a retirement house in Cebu City for his celebration of Misa de Gallo starting with the the St. Joseph Chapel in his residence on D. Jakosalem Street.
The next day , Palma will preside over the dawn Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and then San Roque Parish in Mambaling on Dec. 18.
On Dec. 20, at the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at the South Road Properties (SRP) before he visits old and ailing priests at the Pope John Paul II retirement house in Mabolo, Cebu City to preside over a dawn Mass on Dec. 23.
Palma will preside over the Christmas Eve Mass on December 24 at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and on Dec. 31 for the New Year’s Mass and to lead the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
His visit to the Pope John Paul II retirement house for priests is special, said his secretary Fr. Mhar Balili.
“By celebrating Misa de Gallo with them, hopefully the old and ailing priests will feel that they are loved and cared for by God’s people represented by the presence of the archbishop,” Fr. Balili said.
About 10 priests stay at the retirement house, a project of Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol