MORE THAN WORDS: Reflections and Homilies for Simbang Gabi
Book Details
PublisherLogos Publication, Inc.
ISBN / ASINB019Z1W27I
ISBN-13978B019Z1W276
Sales Rank99,999,999
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
There is this presidential candidate whose political platform is to create four seasons in the Philippines. We have, in fact, ;already four seasons: Rainy Season, More Rainy Season. Hot Season. and the longest, the Christmas Season. If we have the longest Christmas celebration in the entire universe. this should give us also more than enough time to do some spiritual preparations like reading . meditating. reflecting. and acting on the "cool" but profound stories in the bible on the birth of the Messiah. this is the purpose of this booklet; apart from its intention to help the Simbang Gabi preacher.
On the Simbang-Gabi, Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD, columnist and radio host. wrote the following:
The nine-day consecutive Masses which honor Mother Mary is part of the Filipino religious culture, influenced by the Advent customs which originated in Mexico in I 587. Fray Diego de Soria asked permission from the Holy Father to hold the dawn Masses for the farmers who woke up very early to work. Hence, the Spanish name, Misa de Gallo celebrated at dawn when cocks (gallo) crow.
This centuries-old tradition is surely a sacrifice of low because it is not easy to rise so early in the morning to attend Mass, and then drag oneself to work. The sacrifice is more felt for countrymen and expatriates living in cold countries like the USA where the Misa de Gallo is tenaciously observed. In the Philippines, the observance of this custom has been adjusted to accommodate the needs of the faithful in their work schedules. That's why we now have Simbang Gabi at night, Simbang Umaga, in late morning, and at noon: Simbang Tanghali. Regretfully. some people go to the Simbang Gabi after a night out intoxicated, ending up in church snoring in the pews; in which case it's Simbang Tulog.
Arc you more blessed if you attend Simbang Gabi? It all depends on what's in your heart or your motive. Do you do it as a matter of custom only or to pray and sacrifice as preparation for Christmas? Some do the Simbang Gabi as thanksgiving for special graces received. Others do it as a panata (personal vow) to complete the whole nine days to pray for a personal intention, like passing the board exam, securing a visa for work abroad or obtaining cure from a serious sickness. Whatever the personal intentions may be, it's certainly a meaningful opportunity to pray and thank the Lord Jesus for coming into our world and for graces and blessings received (Manila Bulletin, Dec 14, 2014).
The More Than Words is a production of the Sacred Heart Parish (Kamuning, Quezon City) under it parish priest, Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD and assisted by the soon-to-be-ordained to the priesthood, the SVD deacons 2015 whose class they call Logos.
On the Simbang-Gabi, Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD, columnist and radio host. wrote the following:
The nine-day consecutive Masses which honor Mother Mary is part of the Filipino religious culture, influenced by the Advent customs which originated in Mexico in I 587. Fray Diego de Soria asked permission from the Holy Father to hold the dawn Masses for the farmers who woke up very early to work. Hence, the Spanish name, Misa de Gallo celebrated at dawn when cocks (gallo) crow.
This centuries-old tradition is surely a sacrifice of low because it is not easy to rise so early in the morning to attend Mass, and then drag oneself to work. The sacrifice is more felt for countrymen and expatriates living in cold countries like the USA where the Misa de Gallo is tenaciously observed. In the Philippines, the observance of this custom has been adjusted to accommodate the needs of the faithful in their work schedules. That's why we now have Simbang Gabi at night, Simbang Umaga, in late morning, and at noon: Simbang Tanghali. Regretfully. some people go to the Simbang Gabi after a night out intoxicated, ending up in church snoring in the pews; in which case it's Simbang Tulog.
Arc you more blessed if you attend Simbang Gabi? It all depends on what's in your heart or your motive. Do you do it as a matter of custom only or to pray and sacrifice as preparation for Christmas? Some do the Simbang Gabi as thanksgiving for special graces received. Others do it as a panata (personal vow) to complete the whole nine days to pray for a personal intention, like passing the board exam, securing a visa for work abroad or obtaining cure from a serious sickness. Whatever the personal intentions may be, it's certainly a meaningful opportunity to pray and thank the Lord Jesus for coming into our world and for graces and blessings received (Manila Bulletin, Dec 14, 2014).
The More Than Words is a production of the Sacred Heart Parish (Kamuning, Quezon City) under it parish priest, Fr. Jerome Marquez, SVD and assisted by the soon-to-be-ordained to the priesthood, the SVD deacons 2015 whose class they call Logos.
