Misa de Gallo: Wish granted or answered prayer?

The blessings of faith, the beauty of love, the spirit of hope and joy, and the comfort of peace, Christmas season is truly the most wonderful time of the year. It is waving a magical wand of radiance, beauty, and solemnity over the entire world. The joy of brightening others’ lives, bearing somebody’s burdens, easing someone’s loads and filling the void of hearts and souls with generous gifts becomes the essence of this celebration. Making people feel God’s presence through our existence, showing everyone that the magic of such celebration is not because of the presents, but because of His presence. In honor of His birth, a meaningful event for us Catholics is held every Christmas called 9-day dawn masses or Misa de Gallo.

Misa De Gallo, or for Filipinos “Simbang Gabi” is known as a rooster’s mass practiced by Spaniards which Filipinos adapted. The Misa De Gallo usually begins on the 16th of December and ends on the 24th.

The tradition of First Christmas Eve was first chronicled by Egeria, a Galician woman who went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land around 381-384. She witnessed how the early Catholics of Jerusalem honored the Christmas mystery with a midnight vigil at Bethlehem. Misa De Gallo is not just observed in the Philippines, but also in the other parts of the world.

In Spain, the Spaniards begin Christmas Eve by lighting small oil lamps in every home, and proceed to church after to hear the Holy Mass. In Bolivia, Bolivians attend Christmas Eve mass, and the celebration is followed by a sit-down meal featuring their traditional dishes, while in Puerto Rico, a series of Misa Aguinaldo during dawn is held. Puerto Ricans celebrate the mass by singing Christmas songs known as “aguinaldos”. Misa De Gallo became a part of the celebration of Yuletide season in some countries.

In the Catholic Church community, it is important to bear in our minds and hearts that Misa De Gallo is also a way of honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary, it reminds us of the her obedience and understanding of the Lord’s will. According to Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. George B. Rimando, D.D., this event also serves as a way of preparation to a meaningful and fruitful celebration of the whole Christmas season, wherein the spirit of love, generosity and sacrifice is observed. The time of the great giving especially to the less fortunate is one way of instilling the real essence and value of the anticipated Christmas season, wherein we show the people that Christ lives within us, and the values he taught us are living inside our hearts and souls. Misa De Gallo reminds us that love and sacrifice are the values that the Blessed Virgin Mary possessed, which brought us our Ultimate Savior, Jesus Christ. While others preach and pray during these novena masses, there are also others who are devotees of an old belief.

An old belief by the elders’ state that when a person completes the novena consecutively will be granted a wish. This is the reason why some church-goers are keen in attending the Misa De Gallo. While others believe it to be a mere coincidence, some think that prayers are more efficient than wishing. A media practitioner, Paul Martin Acol said “I don’t exactly believe (in wishes) but prayer helps.” the same with an Intern student from Philippine Women’s College, Mericris Alsonado who also said that it does not just take a wish, but prayers and trust in God the Father. A chef at Keepsakes Café also had his own fair share of opinion about the belief. Mr. Aries Forgalidad said that he does not believe in it, because he believes that it is up to the person if he/she would want to attend the Misa De Gallo. Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. George B. Rimando, D.D., was asked about this belief, and he stated that there is nothing wrong in believing in this, especially if you have a good intention, putting it in a proper prospective, he said that sacrifices are not done easily. He also said that “God will grant us our wish definitely if it is for our own good, but when in His own time”.

Faith, Trust, Hope, and Love are the spirits that should inhabit our hearts and minds during the time of the great giving, the Christmas season. Faith makes all things possible, Love makes all things easy, and Hope makes all things work. Optimism is the faith that leads into an achievement. Believe in the power of prayers, because if it is a plea of a righteous man, then it is powerful and effective, because sometimes, we tend to be blinded by what we want, and not realize that the things we keep on praying for from God is already right in front of us. (Andrea Jeanne G. Abundo and Sheena Rose G. Leteral | Mass Communication Interns)