CEBU - Catholic believers flocked to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, even spilling out of church doors into the entire compound, for the opening of the traditional Misa de Gallo or Dawn Mass officiated by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal despite health concerns.
Vidal expressed joy upon seeing a lot of people.
“With a joyful heart they come to church to praise, worship and thank the Lord. I hope that people will continue and grow more in this kind of faith they have,” he said.
But Vidal also said that it is not surprising anymore to see a huge crowd during the first day of the nine-day Dawn Masses. The church is usually filled only during the first and last days, he noted.
In his homily, Vidal prayed that those who came to celebrate the first Misa de Gallo may find joy in doing such a sacrifice --in coming to the temple of the Lord and in enduring until the ninth morning.
Today, the Cardinal will celebrate Dawn Mass at the Sto. Rosario Parish. He will be at St. Catherine of Alexandria in Carcar on the third day of the Misa de Gallo. On the fourth day, he will hold Mass at Sta. Teresa de Avila in Talisay City, then at St. Joseph the Patriarch in Cebu City.
On the sixth day to the ninth day, Vidal will be at the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City, St. Francis of Assisi in Naga City, Sto. Tomas de Villanueva and San Nicolas de Tolentino in Cebu City, respectively.
The Cardinal, amid health problems, does not complain of his busy schedule. Vidal has mentioned he is already experiencing frequent back, shoulder and leg muscle pains. Yet he said he does not want to take medications.
“These pains are natural because I am aging. As the years go by we will feel the lessening of our strength,” Vidal said. Vidal was said to have osteoporosis, a sickness that comes with age.
“I only want to continue my services in the most effective way as possible without complaining,” Vidal said. – Jessica Ann Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)