Tagle: ‘Bring back gentleness, tenderness’ in society

MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Christmas called on the faithful to bring back “gentleness and tenderness” in society amid crimes and evil deeds, which are often “executed during the frightening silence of the night.”

“During the time of Jesus up to our contemporary time, some nights have become moments of ominous silence. Crimes and evil deeds are often plotted and executed in the frightening silence of the night. The people who suffer and are continuously threatened and harassed live in endless silent nights. But those silent nights are not holy nights,” said Cardinal Tagle in his homily on  Misa de Gallo or Christmas Eve mass at the Manila Cathedral Minor Basilica in Intramuros, Manila on Monday.The archbishop said that the true silent night must be like that of the Christmas carol “Silent Night,” which has provided a message of “true Christmas joy and peace to generations of Christians all over the world.”

Pure love, tenderness, gentleness are marks of the rule of Jesus Christ, thereby making nights holy, the prelate added.

“Pure love makes nights bright and holy because it comes from God. Only God can love authentically and absolutely. The song, which was first sung in a small village parish in Austrian in 1818 also states that God’s pure love is manifest in the Child “so tender and mild,” he said.

Tagle advised the religious to neither be ashamed of loving pure night or of being tender and mild.

“Do not be ashamed to be tender and mild, to love pure night,” the Cardinal added.

Misa de Gallo marks the end of “Simbang Gabi” or nine-day consecutive masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Jesus Christ is considered by the  Christian faithful as the savior of mankind. His birthday is celebrated on Christmas Day, December 25.

Christmas is a festive, cultural, Christian holiday to remember the birth of Christ.

After the Christmas Eve mass, Catholics would get together for Noche Buena, the traditional feast which consists of Filipino delicacies, lechon, ham, queso de bola, pancit, and rice cakes.