Bishop tells ‘best ways’ to celebrate Holy Week

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MANILA, Philippines – Holy Week is that time of the year when Christians are invited to gain a deeper understanding of the Paschal mystery, or the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Several Filipinos, however, take advantage of the long holiday break by going out of town or leaving the country for vacations.

Others, meanwhile, have their respective “panata” or promise during Holy Week, from flagellation to having themselves nailed to crosses as expressions of penance.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr., chairman of the public affairs committee of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said these things happen as a result of a “shallow understanding and exercise of faith.”

He noted that some Christians may not have been instructed properly about their faith by their families, or even their parish.



“There are different understandings [of Holy Week] depending on how these persons have been instructed regarding their faith,” Iñiguez said in an interview on ANC’s “Headstart” on Wednesday.

“It’s a matter of trying to bring them the totality of the realities and truths of our faith. That’s not something that you can give instantaneously. It’s something that one has to grow into. It has to be an ongoing formation,” he added.

‘Best ways’ to spend Holy Week

Iñiguez said Holy Week is the “climax of the faith celebration” of the church.

Although it is only the celebration of Easter Sunday that is obligatory for Catholics and Christians, he encouraged them to participate in the week-long celebration as well.

Iñiguez warned against “peculiar” practices such as the “penitensya” or self-inflicted punishment, saying that these are not organized by the church.

“If these people who go there are not also that deeply instructed in their faith, these may influence them negatively,” he said.

For him, the best ways to spend Holy Week involve reflection and "active and intelligent" participation in church activities.

“The best way is for us to participate in the religious celebrations of the church, the official celebrations such as the liturgy,” he said.

“Try to see the scheduled religious activities in the church. Participate in these actively and in full understanding,” he added.

Those who are unable to leave their homes, meanwhile, can still take part in the Holy Week celebration through the CBCP’s Visita Iglesia online, where they can visit churches and hear the “pabasa” (Holy Week readings) via their computers.

“All of us are invited to enter in this celebration of faith,” he ended.

source: abs-cbnnews.com