Misa de Gallo: Preparation of the Coming of Christ into our Life

The Philippine Church celebrates the longest and one of the known religious celebrations by Filipino Catholics called Misa de Gallo. This celebration of the Philippine Church has been granted permission by the Holy Father dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which starts every 16 of December and ends on 24 of the same month. The significance of this liturgy emanates from the Season of Advent, being the time of spiritual preparation and purification to worthily welcome and receive Jesus in our life.

This religious tradition of the Philippine Church can be traced back to the Spanish evangelizers during their stay in the Philippines. They handed down their tradition and inculcated to the heart of every Filipino people by honoring the Mother of God. They become good influencers especially in our preparation for the coming celebration of Christmas day.

Throughout the generation, the celebration of the Misa de Gallo has been preserved, enriched, and sustained by the Filipino people in spite of the different crises, especially in this time of COVID-19 when there seems to be hindrances, like the minimum health protocols on mass gathering. The Church is hopeful that attending the Misa de Gallo may be reflected in our life through our acts of charity. We hope to become the channels of sharing of love towards each other as we participate in the Novena to the Blessed Mother. Bringing the gift that we receive from the Lord during our participation on the Misa de Gallo, may we become pious Christians and practice what we heard in the Mass.

Moreover, waking up early in the morning teaches us to sanctify the hours when the world is in the darkness that precedes the nine days before Christmas. But the sacrifice that we make becomes futile and infertile when it is not seen in every moment of our life in relating our brothers and sisters. It is always a challenge to those who participate in the Misa de Gallo to translate their meaningful experience of faith with the Lord into action. It is good to reflect on our intentions in attending the Misa de Gallo at this time of challenges and difficulties.

On the one hand, the religious meaning of the Misa de Gallo is reduced just going to church without so much preparing oneself spiritually for the incarnation of Jesus and to mere social meeting across families and friends, boyfriends, and girlfriends and hang out after Mass. On the other hand, Pope Francis, in one of his celebrations of the Misa de Gallo saw the beauty of this local tradition saying, “In recent decades, thanks to Filipino migrants, this devotion has crossed national borders and has arrived in many other countries.

Everywhere in the Philippines, the Misa de Gallo is celebrated with great joy and solemnity. As a liturgical celebration early in the morning in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the interaction of light and darkness conveys the meaning of Advent. We are invited always to remember that by doing this simple gesture of our faith, we sanctify the dark hours that precede the sunrise before Christmas, to honor the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The act of honoring Mother Mary is our action hoping that like her, we prepare ourselves for the coming of her Son into our life. This propagation of the Catholic faith in Christ is through our devotion to our Blessed Mother which our ancestors handed down to us. The Filipino Catholics beautifully practice Misa de Gallo. May it become a way of life not only in the shallow manner, as many would think, but as a way of eager longing for the very person of Jesus Christ who comes into our life. (Bro. Soren Abellanosa)