Do God’s will: prelate on first day of dawn mass
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said completing the nine-day dawn masses does not mean a faithful’s wish will be granted right away.
“As always, it depends on God, whether you attend eight days or nine days. The most important thing is your trust in the Lord. But to associate the favor with any automatic completion of anything is not the spirit of Christianity,” he said.
The prelate still encouraged the faithful to complete the nine dawn masses even if these are not holy days of obligation.
Palma officiated the first Misa de Gallo on Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minglanilla.
“Daghan kita og mga butang nga gustong buhaton pero naay mga butang nga gusto nato pero dili maayo (We want to do many things but some of these things are not necessarily good for us). Bisan pa maayong butang, timan-i kon dili mao ang kabubut-on sa Diyos mao kini ang atong unang pamalandungan (Even if it’s a good thing, we should ask ourselves if this is what God wants). Kining akong buhaton mao ba kini ang kabubut-on sa Diyos (This thing I want to do, is it God’s will)?” he said in his homily.
Palma said Christians are not selfish and they think of others.
He also said the Archdiocese of Cebu is playing an active role in planning the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Hungary in September 2020.
He said they are sharing Cebu’s experiences in hosting the event in 2016.
But to associate the favor with any automatic completion of anything is not the spirit of Christianity.
JOSE PALMA
Cebu Archbishop, on the faithful completing the nine dawn masses