In the Philippines, Christmas is a huge celebration. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, "As Luck Would Have It? Nah...", the festivities begin on September 1st, which showcases our love for Christmas. We also have a beautiful tradition of attending nine masses leading up to Christmas Eve. This is a centuries-long, beloved tradition and is here to stay.
In the United States, where there is a significant population of Filipino parishioners, it is likely that Simbang Gabi Masses are held, especially when there are Filipino staff members at the parish. We are fortunate to have these Masses in our parish. Last December marked the seventh year that our parish has hosted these Christmas Novena Masses.
Our parish holds Masses at 7 PM instead of the customary 4 or 5 AM schedule in the Philippines. This is to accommodate the parishioners who would otherwise miss attending Mass if it were held in the early morning hours.
I am grateful to God for allowing our family to attend Mass together for all the nine Masses, except for our younger son, who won't be able to join us until December 16 or 17 of last year. It is of great importance for me to instill in my sons the value of attending Mass regularly, which is an essential part of life that should not be compromised.
Last December was no different, so we went to the Christmas Novena Masses. Notably, our God never fails to show His appreciation when we do things that make Him smile. And this is the focus of this blog.
I took part in the 14-day Gratitude Challenge on Facebook. The challenge required me to post things for which I am thankful. I could either use photos, reels, or live/recorded videos to do it. To make my posts more interesting, I utilized all three options to add variety to my post content.
It is important to be mindful of the many things around us and express gratitude to God for them. There are numerous things to be thankful for that go beyond the everyday blessings which we tend to overlook or take for granted. These may include the simple ability to breathe, access to clean water, having food on our table, and many other small things that we may easily miss.
Additionally, the conveniences we enjoy, which are scarce in many places, shouldn’t be overlooked. And let's not forget the small things that make a big difference in our daily lives, or the things that increase our comfort level or restoring us to comfort.
For instance, having a glass of water when we're thirsty, a chair to sit on when our feet are tired from a long walk, or a shaded area to rest when caught in the rain, are all things we should appreciate. We should even be thankful for the simple act of crossing the street safely. These little things may seem insignificant, but they add up and make a significant impact on our overall wellbeing.
This was one of the ideas behind the 14-day Gratitude Challenge go-lives back in December.
I didn't hesitate to accept the challenge. And why is that?
I have developed a habit of expressing gratitude even for the ordinary events that happen in my day-to-day life, which is why it was easy for me to participate in the gratitude challenge. I have been doing this since my elementary years, so it has become a part of me growing up. Also, convinced that all I have to do is make a conscious effort to be more attentive to the inspirations that God sends my way, I will always have something to share during the challenge.
Well, to my surprise, honestly, there were days during the challenge when, no matter how hard I searched for something to share, I couldn't come up with anything. I know it wasn't fair to say that, but I intended to inspire anyone who stumbled upon my day-to-day posts on my Facebook page. I always strive to encourage and spread hope and joy in every way possible.
On that night that I hadn't yet posted anything, as the Mass started, I asked God, “Lord, I have nothing to share… What do I post today? What do You want me to share?”
Well, God proved that the day wasn't over yet. Right before the offertory, one of the Mass organizers picked us to offer a rose to honor St. Jude, whom we were celebrating that night. We were all amazed and delighted, and together with some others, we marched to the center aisle all the way to the altar with the rose in our hands.
That was it—that was God’s answer! I whispered to my husband what my concern was that night, and it warmed my heart to see how God took care of it. Best of all, it happened twice during the Novena Masses. Best of all, it happened twice during the Novena Masses.
Yes, God is super awesome! But here’s one more thing worth noting: It’s customary for the parishes in our diocese to hold the community penance service at 7 PM, whether during Lent or Advent. As the Simbang Gabi Masses were celebrated at 7:30 PM, the Mass was moved to the Parish Hall to accommodate more parishioners for the penance service, which was to be held inside the church. This was announced the night before.
That night of the penance service, I felt uneasy because I wanted my family to attend the Advent penance service. We still managed to make it to church and joined in the prayers that were usually recited before the penance service.
I looked around to see if we could attend the Simbang Gabi Mass at the parish hall, which was scheduled to start in 30 minutes. However, it seemed impossible for us to make it on time, so I asked the deacon which was more important - the penance service or the Mass. The deacon, aware that we are Filipinos and that Simbang Gabi Masses are significant to us, advised us to attend the Simbang Gabi Mass instead. He said that we could still go to the regularly scheduled weekly confessions.
I understand we can still attend confession before Christmas, even though I agreed with the deacon. However, for some reason, my heart still feels heavy as we head out. Our family has a tradition of participating in the community penance service, as it only takes place just twice a year. I love the feeling it evokes within me. It felt special to me. I guess it’s because multiple priests officiate the penance service, as many as 7 or even 8 priests from other parishes.
When the Mass ended, the deacon was outside, right by the entrance to the Parish Hall. I walked up to him and asked if the penance service was still going. I broke into joy when he replied, “Yes, it is. You can still go!”
We hurried to the church to ensure that there were still priests available. I arrived first and was relieved to see just a few parishioners waiting in line. One priest was by the altar, and although someone was confessing, no one else was in line. I signaled to my family to follow me. In our amazement, we were able to attend not only the Simbang Gabi Mass but also the penance service, both of which were held on the same night.
Now is your turn to share your stories ingrained with a heavenly touch. Shoot me a message, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Many Blessings!
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