Monday, March 17, 2008 Time To Wear Our Halos By Karl Aries Emerson F. Cabilao
HOLY Week has become one of the highlights of the year for our family. Coming from clans of devout Catholics, we always observe our Lenten traditions.
For the Catholics out there, we can all do our share of self-denial and repentance in observance of the Holy Week. Here are a few easy pointers:
Take part in church activities. The church is abuzz with so many activities in this holy season. The numerous religious groups in the parish keep themselves busy in the proper organization and conduct of these activities. Giving a portion of your time, effort and talent (say lending a hand in decorating the church altar or the carrozas for procession) would be a symbolic opportunity of giving back to the Supreme Master.
Join the processions. For more than 20 years now, my mother's family has been caretakers of the image of the Sorrowful Mother (Mater Dolorosa). Every Holy Wednesday and Good Friday, it has become the family’s “panata” to take care of the decorations for the image’s carroza, which is part of the Lenten processions in Mandaue City.
Solemn processions of the images of personalities that played significant roles in Christ’s passion, as well as touching tableaus of the Way of the Cross, are commonplace during the Holy Week. With candles and rosary beads, hordes of people walk on the streets in prayer. It’s a great way to make up for all those times when we were naughty and not so nice.
Go to Confession. Holy Week would not be complete for many Catholics without a confession. Be prepared for the long lines in the parishes, as families or friends often go to confession in groups, before heading to the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) and other places of worship.
So, when was the last time you had a heart-to-heart talk with a priest about your misdeeds? When Catholics remember how Jesus gave up his life for mankind’s salvation, it is the perfect time to feel sorry for all your faults and reconcile with Him and those we have mistreated or hurt in the past.
Fast and Abstain. It’s not just about foregoing the consumption of meat-based dishes especially during Good Friday. It’s also about refraining from acts of self-indulgence like going on a beach outing (skip the Bantayan Island trip until after the Holy Week) or spending too much time updating your Friendster profile.
Reflect. This may sound too prophetic but it might be a good time to refresh your memory on text of the Seven Last Words of Jesus and the Passion and Death of Christ, so you won't be left gaping when the priests or laymen play the role of the apostles during the Good Friday ceremony in church, or when the Easter Sunday gospel is read. Or you could have a movie marathon on the classic movies like “The Ten Commandments” and “Jesus of Nazareth” or a more recent flick, Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ.”
This Holy Week, behave for a change. You still have enough time to enjoy the rest of the summer.
