A year of renewal

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

If there is one thing that should gladden the hearts of church officials who have been wondering if the youth of today have not wandered so far away from their faith that they are no longer tractable, it is the observance of the age-old practice in this country of the Misa de Aguinaldo, or “dawn mass”, sometime also called Misa de Gallo, or the “Mass of the Rooster”. The latter is so called because “Gallo” means rooster, and this mass is celebrated virtually at cock's crow.

Since the dawn mass tradition was again observed starting December 16, the beginning of the Christmas season, it has been noted that majority of those who come to the churches at the break of dawn to attend the masses are young men and women, and even those still in their pre-teens, who seem not to mind having to wake up at an early hour to bear the oftentimes very cool air, to get into the usually crowded churches and attend the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

To many of these young people, this practice has also become a time for simple, wholesome bonding, because some of them try to come in groups, which is also a very good practice as it also means that they provide each other, not only company, but also security.

Aside from the younger ones, it has also been noted that the others who observe this tradition are students, office workers and businessmen and women who do not seem to mind the sacrifice of losing sleep even if they have a tiring day ahead of them.

For sure, they will gain blessings for these acts of sacrifice and confirmation of their adherence to the religious practices that were handed down to them by their ancestors.

The Church and its officials must surely be elated by this manifestation of faith and willingness to undergo some deprivations for it. We hope, therefore, that this Christmas season will lead to a renewal, not only of devotion, but also to more compliance with the intentions in the declaration of this year as “The Year of Faith”.*