Camille Naredo

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads the Christmas Eve Mass at the Manila Cathedral in Manila on December 24, 2025, laying down the image of the Baby Jesus during the traditional rites as the faithful gather to commemorate the birth of Christ and reflect on the message of peace, hope, and renewal this Christmas season. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads the Christmas Eve Mass at the Manila Cathedral in Manila on December 24, 2025

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CHRISTMAS 2025

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766588040129122425_xmas eve mass.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Christmas Eve mass at the Manila Cathedral, December 24, 2025. Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Christmas Eve mass at the Manila Cathedral, December 24, 2025. <em>Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula urged Filipinos to confront fear, uncertainty, and unrest with hope rooted in God as he led the Christmas Eve Mass on Wednesday night, reflecting on the Nativity of Jesus amid what he described as anxious and burdened times.</p><p>In his homily at the Manila Cathedral, Advincula centered his reflection on the role of angels in the Christmas story, presenting them as models for believers today through three actions: encouraging others, giving signs of God’s presence, and glorifying God.</p><p>He said these actions speak powerfully to a world weighed down by disasters, political turmoil, economic hardship, and personal struggles.</p><p>“We praise and glorify God as we celebrate the solemn feast of the earthly nativity of the Son of God. And to us is born a child, a Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord,” Advincula said.</p><p>Reflecting on the angels’ first words to the shepherds, Advincula emphasized that Christmas begins with encouragement, not instruction or correction.</p><p>He noted that fear and fatigue are not new realities, but are deeply understood by God.</p><p>“God knows that the world into which His Son is born is anxious, burdened, and tired. The shepherds were ordinary people who had to stay awake at night, unsure of tomorrow. In the same way, God knows our anxiety and fatigue. Kilala ng Diyos ang mga takot, pangamba, pagod at bigat ng puso natin,” he said.</p><p>“At ngayon sinasabi niya sa atin -- Huwag kayong matakot. Do not be afraid. Christmas empowers us to become like angels too. To become the presence that encourages,&quot; he added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/23/marcos-jr-urges-filipinos-to-stay-safe-healthy-during-christmas-new-year-revelries-1804">READ: Marcos Jr. urges Filipinos to stay safe, healthy during Christmas, New Year revelries</a></div><p>Advincula pointed to present-day sources of fear, including communities in the Visayas and Mindanao still recovering from earthquakes and storms, as well as political instability, economic pressures, and corruption that erode truth and integrity.</p><p>He also acknowledged quieter, more personal fears, of failure, inadequacy, loneliness, or being a burden, urging the faithful not to deny these struggles but to face them with hope.</p><p>“For on Christmas, God has chosen to be recognized not through signs of power and dominance, but indeed through the smallness, poverty, and vulnerability of an infant,” he said.</p><p>He added that Christians themselves can become signs of God’s presence through ordinary but faithful living.</p><p>“Sometimes, we may be the only sign of God&#x27;s presence that someone will see. A priest who remains faithful even when tired. A parent who continues to laugh without recognition. A student who stays diligent amidst challenges and failures. A worker who refuses to lose integrity. A leader who serves humbly and honestly. A sinner trying to change his ways. A believer who hopes in silence,&quot; Advincula said.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766589362329viber_image_2025-12-24_23-10-24-013.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads the Christmas Eve Mass at the Manila Cathedral in Manila on December 24, 2025, laying down the image of the Baby Jesus during the traditional rites as the faithful gather to commemorate the birth of Christ and reflect on the message of peace, hope, and renewal this Christmas season. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula leads the Christmas Eve Mass at the Manila Cathedral in Manila on December 24, 2025, laying down the image of the Baby Jesus during the traditional rites as the faithful gather to commemorate the birth of Christ and reflect on the message of peace, hope, and renewal this Christmas season. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>He warned that when success, control, or ego takes the place of God, unrest follows, reminding the faithful that genuine peace flows from lives centered on God.</p><p>The message of hope echoed the broader Christmas celebration at the Manila Cathedral, where Church leaders highlighted family, togetherness, and faith as central to experiencing the true spirit of Christmas.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/24/sara-duterte-christmas-message-1155">READ: Sara Duterte tells Filipinos: Christmas more meaningful when blessings are shared</a></div><p>Manila Cathedral Vice-Rector Fr. Vicente Gabriel Bautista underscored the Nativity as a concrete sign of hope for renewal and growth.</p><p>“Isang magandang mensahe po na ang pagdating ni Hesus sa ating buhay, ang kanyang kapanganakan, ay isang konkretong pamamaraan ng pag-asa sa atin ng Panginoon,” Bautista said.</p><p>“Na sa pagdating ni Hesus, tayo ay may pag-asa sa pagbabago, sa paglago, sa kabutihan ng ating kalooban, sa kagandahan po ng ating kapaligiran,&quot; he added.</p><p>Church leaders also reminded the faithful that the joy of Christmas is most deeply felt when shared with loved ones and grounded in worship.</p><p>The Christmas Eve celebration at the Manila Cathedral also featured a Christmas Eve concert by the Manila Cathedral Choir, as hymns and carols echoed the Church’s call to hope, faith, and peace as Filipinos welcomed Christmas.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x3wPSQ1DYj8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula urged Filipinos to confront fear, uncertainty, and unrest with hope rooted in God as he led the Christmas Eve Mass on December 24, 2025, reflecting on the Nativity of Jesus amid what he described as anxious and burdened times.</p>

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula urged Filipinos to confront fear, uncertainty, and unrest with hope rooted in God as he led the Christmas Eve Mass on December 24, 2025, reflecting on the Nativity of Jesus amid what he described as anxious and burdened times.

Cardinal Advincula urges courage and integrity in Christmas Eve homily

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Cardinal Advincula urges courage and integrity in Christmas Eve homily

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 24, 2025 11:05 PM PHT

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Updated December 24, 2025 11:16 PM PHT

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Christmas Eve Mass

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